Rochester Man Among Rescued Kayakers
A Rochester man was among four kayakers who were rescued by Indiana Conservation Officers Saturday night near Winamac.
Ryan Helt of Rochester, Caleb Giddens of Indianapolis, Vance Feutz of Bloomington and Corey Wilson of Ellettsville called 911 at about 10 p.m. Saturday to say they were stranded along with Tippecanoe River. Although unhurt, the men were not able to identify their location and called for assistance.
Veteran Indiana Conservation Officer Jeff Richwine fortunately recognized a landmark the men described as simply an old car on the bank of the river. Officer Richwine launched his boat and discovered the kayakers approximately one half-mile upstream from the Tippecanoe River State Park canoe camp in Winamac.
According to DNR spokesman Shawn Brown, Officer Richwine has worked the Pulaski and Fulton counties area for years and knew the precise location of the 1954 Ford that had been abandoned along the riverside for years. Brown said the men launched their kayaks in Monterey and were headed to the canoe camp, but it got dark and they were unable to locate their surroundings.