Over 50 Rescued from Cuyahoga River After Rough Currents Overturn Rafts and Kayaks in Ohio

Authorities in Ohio rescued more than 50 people from a river

Over 50 Rescued from Cuyahoga River After Rough Currents Overturn Rafts and Kayaks in Ohio

An intense rescue operation unfolded on the Cuyahoga River in Kent, Ohio, as the Kent Fire Department pulled more than 50 people — including multiple children and six dogs — from the water in just three hours on Sunday afternoon. Strong currents, fueled by recent storms, overturned kayaks and rafts in what fire officials described as dangerously unpredictable river conditions.

The Cuyahoga River experienced higher water levels than usual in the wake of multiple thunderstorms and tornadoes last week. City of Kent Fire Department

The mass rescue came one day after tragedy struck the same river when a father and his 5-year-old son were thrown from their inner tube. The child’s body was recovered Sunday, but the father remains missing. Authorities believe high water levels and fast-moving currents caused by recent severe storms and tornadoes contributed to the deadly conditions.

Emergency services were initially dispatched to the river following reports that 11 individuals, including six children, had fallen out of their rafts and were unable to get out of the water. Upon arrival, first responders found 23 people and six dogs in immediate need of rescue — many without life jackets — as the river’s current continued to drag additional groups downstream.

On Saturday evening, a father and son went missing while tubing in the river. City of Kent Fire Department

“Several [groups] were coming down the river on kayaks and rafts and observed losing control or falling out… due to the current of the river,” the Kent Fire Department said in a press release. The situation escalated rapidly, with over 50 individuals ultimately rescued from the river.

The large-scale effort required mutual aid from more than four neighboring fire departments and a specialized water rescue team. The operation lasted more than three hours as responders worked tirelessly to locate and remove individuals caught in the hazardous flow.

The missing 5-year-old was found dead Sunday morning. City of Kent Fire Department

The rescue followed a public advisory issued just hours earlier by the Kent Fire Department warning of elevated water levels and intensified currents. The advisory came in the aftermath of severe weather that swept through northeast Ohio, leaving destruction, power outages, and hazardous river conditions in its wake.

Despite warnings, many recreational paddlers ventured onto the river unaware of the risks. The Kent Fire Department reiterated its plea following Sunday’s events: “We ask that you stay on dry land and simply observe the beauty of the river during these rough conditions rather than risk danger to yourself and others.”

Authorities have not confirmed if any of the rescued individuals or pets sustained injuries. The search continues for the missing father, with local officials expecting efforts to resume once the water levels recede.