Flood — Marion, Indiana

2017-07-09 · near Meridian Hills, Marion, Indiana

Event narrative

According to the IndyStar newspaper, two kayakers rescued from the White River Sunday afternoon have been hospitalized. Shortly before 12:30 p.m., police and fire officials were called to the 7300 block Westfield Boulevard for a possible drowning, dispatchers confirmed. The two kayakers had come out of their boats and were stuck in what we call the boil, the rapid churning area of the low-head dam that basically traps you and doesn't let you out, the fire chief said.As crews were getting their boat into the water, the first victim was released from the boil. The fire department said firefighters threw him a rope and life jacket. He was able to grab the rope and hold on 'with encouragement from people watching from the Monon Bridge above 'while an off-duty firefighter grabbed bolt cutters to open the fencing and allow crews to carry the boat to the water.

They were able to pull the first victim onto the boat. He was conscious but exhausted, officials said. Meanwhile, the second victim was stuck in the boil, unconscious. When the boat started back up stream to pass the victim to medical crews on shore, the second victim was released from the boil and floated downstream before getting stuck in a strainer underneath the Monon Bridge.

Witnesses said both men, one in his 50s and one in his 40s, were wearing life vests when they first went into the water, but the strength of the rushing water as they were trapped in the boil pulled the vests from their bodies.The kayakers were taken to Methodist Hospital for treatment.Both patients are in critical condition. One was alert and one was not, the fire chief said. Very, very dangerous situation today, this is one of those days when we're asking people not to be on the river today. Water is up well over a foot and a half, maybe two feet. The current is running about 8 knots. It's very swift water today.

One kayaker, 48, pulled from the White River, died Sunday, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department. The second kayaker, 54, has improved since Sunday.

Wider weather episode

With the White River near Nora in flood after some heavy rain, a couple of kayakers found themselves stuck in a boil associated with a low head dam. Both kayakers went to the hospital with injuries, with one succumbing to their injuries.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.8740, -86.1407)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 718384. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.