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Kayakers rescued from flooded White River

JACKSON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – Two kayakers were saved from the flooded White River on Sunday evening after clinging to a downed tree for over 45 minutes.

Indiana Conservation Officers and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call for help around 5 p.m. after some passerby noticed two drenched men in the swollen White River.

After officials arrived, they saw Matthew Beem, 24, and Gabriel Wyatt, 31, in the cold and fast water.

Conservation officers and Jackson County police worked quickly to deploy an air boat and removed the two men from the river.

According to the report, Beam still had his life jacket, but Wyatt did not, as it had been tied to the kayak when it floated downstream.

When the kayakers reached the river’s edge, they were examined by the Jackson County EMS and treated for mild hypothermia and released.