A warning from the Rice County authorities, after several canoeists and kayakers had to be rescued from the Cannon River over the holiday weekend.
The Cannon River is running high and fast this time of year, like many of Minnesota's rivers and streams. They are also hiding branches and downed trees, the conditions that caused the kayakers and canoeists to capsize on Saturday. The Rice County Sheriff was called to the Cannon River about 11:00 Saturday morning.
"It was a dangerous situation," says Rice County Sheriff's Deputy Dan Dan Berndtson.
He says three adults and six children were paddling from Two Rivers Park in Faribault toward Northfield when their boats hit trees underwater. Two canoes tipped, dumping two adults and two children into the water.
Another child fell into the river from a kayak while trying to help the people in the water.
"An important lesson was taken away by several of the individuals that rivers can be dangerous and if you get hung up in debris, things can happen very quick," Berndtson explained.
First responders were able to get to everyone as they held onto tree branches in the fast moving, high water. Berndtson says they were able to rescue all of them, and they were all wearing life jackets.