Kayaker clings to branch for 2 hours as family tries to help, IN rescuers say

A woman clung to a tree branch for hours after her kayak overturned in an Indiana river, first responders say.

The 53-year-old Indianapolis woman began kayaking around 1 p.m. Sunday, June 22, on the White River near where she lives, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department. Around 8:30 p.m. her kayak flipped, sending her into the water.

As the woman grabbed hold of a tree branch, her husband spent the next 30 minutes attempting to save her, firefighters said. Unsuccessful, he called his daughter, who called 911.

The fire department said they had difficulty finding the woman until her daughter pinpointed her location using the Find My app.

“Within minutes of launching, IFD Tactical Team 7 had the woman and her husband in the boat and brought them safely to shore,” according to the fire department. “Neither sustained any injury.”

By the time she was rescued, she had been clinging to the branch for two hours, firefighters said.

This story was originally published June 23, 2025 at 8:13 AM with the headline "Kayaker clings to branch for 2 hours as family tries to help, IN rescuers say."