OTSEGO (WKZO AM/FM) –It was a frustrating night for rescue crews on the Kalamazoo River after a report came in just before 9 pm of a man in the water behind the Meijer in Plainwell, yelling for help.
They are to resume the search but they don’t expect to find him alive.
A rescue effort was mounted but the white male was moving quickly toward Otsego in the cold and fast moving river which is nearing flood stage, making any rescue dangerous.
A few rescuers spotted and even talked to the 40 to 50 year old man as he floated toward Otsego but they could not get to him as he passed by and as time went on, communications with the victim ceased. Hypothermia sets in quickly in water that cold.
Rivers in the area will be cresting over the next few days as several days of rain and yesterday’s melted snow move downstream.
Meteorologist T.J. Turnage says they anticipate nuisance flooding primarily and no property damage should result.
But he says its still dangerous if you get too close to the water.
He says that includes trying to traverse flooded roadways in a vehicle.
There will be stretches of the Kalamazoo, Portage, Thornapple and Grand Rivers that will exceed their banks over the next few days.
