Nine people, including six juveniles, found themselves in treacherous waters this weekend after their watercraft capsized on the Cannon River. According to a KARE 11 report, the group set out for a leisurely paddle from Two Rivers Park in Faribault but ran into trouble when two canoes got snagged on fallen trees in the river.
Emergency services, including the Rice County Sheriff's Office, were dispatched to the scene near the 18000 block of Cabot Avenue following a distress call around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Deputies arrived to find several persons hanging onto a large tree amidst the churning river, a Rice County press release described. A juvenile, in an attempt to aid one of the groups, overturned his kayak, adding himself to the number of people in distress.
The ordeal unfolded against the backdrop of a river still strewn with the aftermath of 2018 tornadoes—underwater debris that poses a continual hazard. "The Cannon River, like many Minnesota rivers, is filled with unseen debris," Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas warned in a statement obtained by Rice County, advising extreme caution for anyone navigating these deceptive waters.
All involved were wearing life jackets, which likely played a critical role in ensuring that there were no injuries reported. The specialized Rice County Dive and Drone teams were utilized during the rescue operation, with assistance from multiple other agencies, as per the county's civic notification. Sheriff Thomas emphasized the importance of personal safety and the risks to first responders in such rescue efforts.
Minnesota law mandates life jackets for each individual on a boat, underscoring the necessity of this precaution, both for personal protection and legal compliance. In this instance, preparedness and swift emergency response combined to prevent what could have been a tragic episode on the Cannon River.
