Grand Rapids Whitewater » Grand River rescue http://grandrapidswhitewater.org Putting Rapids back in the Grand River Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:31:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Tragic River Death http://grandrapidswhitewater.org/2011/03/tragic-river-death/ http://grandrapidswhitewater.org/2011/03/tragic-river-death/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:28:11 +0000 Chip Richards http://grandrapidswhitewater.org/?p=895

Ben Stewart Black


On Sunday, February 27, 2011, the lowhead dams of the Grand River took the life of our young friend, 24 year old “Big Ben” Black. On behalf of Grand Rapids Whitewater, Cannonsburg Ski Area co-workers and Ben’s many friends, we wish to extend our condolences to the family in this difficult time.

 
GRWW continues to work with the City Of Grand Rapids toward our goal of re-engineering these drowning machines in order to make a safer urban river experience for everyone.

]]> http://grandrapidswhitewater.org/2011/03/tragic-river-death/feed/ 1 Low-Head Dam Dangers http://grandrapidswhitewater.org/2009/04/low-head-dam-dangers/ http://grandrapidswhitewater.org/2009/04/low-head-dam-dangers/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:34:15 +0000 Chip Richards http://grandrapidswhitewater.org/?p=165 Grand Rapids currently has 5 low head dams downtown.  They are also known as drowning machines.  Most fishermen are aware of the inherent dangers and know to avoid them.

“I thought maybe it was gonna be a little dam that I could go over like the whitewater rafters.  It didn’t work out like that,”  said Joe Hileski.  “I almost died.”  On Wednesday April 8, 2009, Joe set out for an adventure on the Grand River. 

Photos by Paul L. Newby II | The Grand Rapids Press

Photos by Paul L. Newby II | The Grand Rapids Press

He purchased a $20 rubber raft from Meijer and launched at Riverside Park.  “Next thing I know that dam came up awful fast and there was no stopping it.  I went all the way to the bottom and hit my head on a rock.  Somehow, miraculously, I found that raft and clung to it.”

To find out how Joe was rescued by two fishermen, read the MLive, Grand Rapids Press article  http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/04/man_in_raft_rescued_from_grand.html

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