CENTERTON — A recreational outing turned into an emergency Friday afternoon, June 19, 2026, when a kayak capsized on the White River, leaving four paddlers and three dogs stranded and scattered across the water.
Emergency crews from the Martinsville Fire Department (MFD), Green Township, and Brown Township Water Rescue were dispatched to the Henderson Ford Public Access Site around 2:00 p.m. following a 911 call reporting an overturned watercraft. The site is located along the White River in the town of Centerton, just northeast of Martinsville.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders discovered that the group’s trip had been disrupted after they encountered a “strainer,” a hazardous river obstruction typically formed by fallen trees, tangled branches, or debris that allows water to flow through but traps boats and people. The force of the current against the strainer quickly capsized the kayak.
The impact separated the group, forcing rescue teams to scan multiple areas. When crews launched their boats, they found the four victims clinging to safety in completely separate locations:
- One kayaker managed to fight the current and pull themselves safely onto a nearby riverbank.
- A second victim managed to stay with an upright kayak, securing the craft to a partially submerged tree in the river.
- The remaining two victims were found marooned out in the active channel, desperately holding onto trees to keep from being swept downstream.
The rescue effort took an urgent turn when a Morgan County Sheriff’s deputy spotted one of the victims losing their grip on a tree. The deputy immediately entered the water to assist the struggling kayaker.
Boats deployed by the Martinsville Fire Department and Green Township Fire & Rescue methodically pulled all four victims, two of the dogs, and the sheriff’s deputy safely from the river. The third dog was located a short time later, waiting safely on a nearby shorebank. No major injuries were reported.
While the group possessed safety gear, including whistles, throwable rescue devices, and Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), investigators noted that two of the kayakers were not actually wearing their life jackets when the boat flipped over.
Following the successful operation, the Martinsville Fire Department issued an urgent reminder to the public regarding local waterway safety, emphasizing that water conditions can change rapidly.
“To ensure a safe kayaking trip, always wear a properly fitted Personal Flotation Device, dress for unexpected water immersion rather than just the air temperature, and avoid paddling alone,” the department shared. “Plan a route, check river conditions, weather forecasts, and always share your plan with someone.”
