Accident Database

Report ID# 118172

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Date

Victim

Victim Age

River

Location

Water Level

River Difficulty

Cause Code(s)

Swim into Strainer

Injury Type(s)

Other

Factors

Trip Type

Boat Type

Status

Accident Description

From FB: The Estherville Fire Department was paged today for a kayaker that had flipped over and a small child was being sucked under a log jam. With pure adrenaline one of the adult females was able to keep ahold of the child and kept her face above the water until firefighters arrived to assist. The child’s lifejacket was tangled in the log jam and was pulling the child under the water. Firefighters along with the adult female were able to cut the lifejacket free.

Firefighters brought six people to safety with the use of our rescue boat. Iowa DNR assisted with their boat. Two individuals were able to self rescue. All individuals were checked out by the Estherville ambulance, with two being transported to Avera.

The Estherville Fire Department was assisted by Emmet County Sheriff’s Officer, Emmet County Dispatcher, Estherville Police Department, Estherville Ambulance Service, Iowa State DNR and Iowa State Patrol.

There were three drones on site. One from each of the following agencies, Estherville PD, Emmet County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol. Without the great partnerships with all agencies involved, this rescue could have turned out very different. The Estherville Fire Department thanks you for your assistance.