After two kayak rescues in same place, Ozaukee officials say avoid part of Milwaukee River

After rescuing two groups of kayakers in the same area within two days, the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office is urging kayakers to avoid part of the Milwaukee River near Manchester Drive in the Town of Grafton.

The sheriff’s office says both groups of kayakers entered the Milwaukee River from Lime Kiln Park in the Village of Grafton and their kayaks overturned in the area of Manchester Drive in the Town of Grafton.

“The kayaks overturned due to rapid water conditions and downed trees in the river causing obstacles that were difficult to navigate. The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office is urging kayakers to avoid using this stretch of the Milwaukee River until water levels subside and water conditions improve,” officials said.

The first rescue occurred Thursday afternoon when the sheriff’s office received a report of two kayakers — a 49-year-old man and his 16-year-old son — in distress on an island in the Milwaukee River, near Heather Court in the Town of Grafton.

They were kayaking down the river when their kayaks overturned. Both were wearing life jackets and were separated from their kayaks.

Late Saturday morning, the office received a report of kayakers in distress on an island near Manchester Drive, a road that connects with Heather Court. That group included a 38-year-old man, a 36-year-old woman and their 2-year-old child.

When their kayaks overturned, the 2-year-old was wearing a life jacket. The adults had life jackets with them but were not wearing them at the time, and the life jackets floated downstream with the kayaks.

In both instances, the kayakers were rescued and brought safely back to shore. Multiple emergency departments responded to the incidents, including the Ozaukee County Drone Team.

One yellow, black and red kayak from the Thursday incident hasn’t been found yet. If you locate it, the sheriff’s office asks that you contact them.