Fallen trees, dangerous current spark 11 Thornapple River rescues, sheriff's office says

HASTINGS, Mich. — The Thornapple River is not safe, and people should stay away from the water for now, according to the Barry County first responders.

“It’s swift, it’s not calm out there," said Roger Caris, Hastings Fire Chief. "It's treacherous, it's dangerous and people don’t understand that."

The Barry County Sheriff's Office, Hastings Fire, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, have responded to several calls for help on the Thornapple River since April.

In that time, ten adults, a child, and three dogs have been rescued, according to the Barry County Sheriff's Office.

Three problems are combining to make one particular part of the river more dangerous right now, Caris said Wednesday.

Water levels are high from snowmelt and heavy April rains, the current is moving faster than normal, and fallen trees have created a deadfall right around a sharp bend in the river upstream from Center Road in Hastings.

“They don’t understand that there’s trees in the river, there’s brush in the river,” Caris said. “One of the farmers, he has rescued 11 people off his property."

It's also difficult for Hastings firefighters to rescue people without a boat, especially when most are not happening near public boat launches, according to Caris.

“We’re doing what we can with the best we got," Caris said. "It's pretty hard."

Hastings firefighters have responded to the river twice this year, Caris said.

Caris said his department has been at the river twice in 2022. He said most kayakers wear life jackets, but others don’t, and some people also drink too much while they're on the water.

Follow Maria Serrano on Facebook and Twitter. Email tips and story ideas to mserrano@sbgtv.com.