A weekend paddle on the Milwaukee River turned into a tense rescue Sunday when a father and son were pulled to safety near Kletzsch Park after their kayak flipped and left them marooned on a small island where the river splits.
North Shore Fire/Rescue crews reached the pair in the midafternoon, brought them off the island and treated them in an ambulance at the scene. Officials said the two had been paddling upstream before getting stuck.
According to the North Shore Fire Department, crews were called out around 3 p.m. after the kayak overturned and the pair became trapped on the island-like area. They may have gone over near a small dam. Officials told FOX6 News the father and son had been kayaking from Thiensville and waited there for help until rescuers arrived.
In a statement to FOX6 News, North Shore Fire Battalion Chief Eric Riechert urged anyone unfamiliar with the river, or thinking about paddling after severe weather, to “stay off the river.” He noted that recent storms and heavy rain have pushed currents higher and turned normally calm stretches into something far less predictable.
Why This Stretch Can Be Treacherous
Low-head dams and split channels can create swirling eddies and recirculating flows that grab capsized boats and make self-rescue tough. The Kletzsch Dam area recently went through a fish-passage and dam project that restored native fish habitat but also altered flow patterns near the falls, according to local coverage. Milwaukee County Parks lists Kletzsch as a major access and take-out point on the river for paddlers, which helps explain why incidents sometimes crop up there.
Local Paddlers Urged To Take Precautions
Guided outfitters and community paddling groups often wrap up river trips at Kletzsch Park, but they consistently emphasize scouting unfamiliar stretches and portaging around any dam or weir instead of trying to run it. Forward Outdoor lists Kletzsch as a common take-out and recommends that paddlers wear properly fitted personal flotation devices and have a clear plan for what to do in case of a flip or re-entry.
Safety guides further advise dressing for immersion, practicing re-entry skills and staying off the river when water levels are high or after heavy rain.
North Shore Fire crews were able to get the father and son back to shore and provide care, and the department is using the close call as a reminder that inexperienced paddlers, and anyone heading out after storms, should treat the river with extra caution. Before launching, officials recommend checking local river forecasts and watches from the National Weather Service and following guidance from county parks and local rescue agencies.
