GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Officials are warning people on the dangers of area rivers during this time of the year.
Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers kayak instructor, Ken Braband, paddles through river currents three days a week.
But he tells FOX 11 it’s not for everyone, especially this time of the year.
“In the springtime, there is more risk involved. It’s not that you can’t do it, but you have to be aware of what those risks are, and you have to be trained for it, and equipped for it.”
On Saturday, a kayaker was found dead on the shoreline of the Embarrass River, north of Shiocton.
“When he was found, he wasn’t found with a life jacket on, so that is obviously a concern for us,” said Sgt. Ryan Carpenter with the Outagamie County Sheriffs Department.
Carpenter said it’s common to see similar incidents in the spring.
“The current is very high right now, in fact, this weekend is very dangerous; they already issued flood warnings for this weekend.”
Zeller’s Ski and Sports owner, David Zeller, told FOX 11, not only are the water levels high, but the water is also cold, despite the warm air temperature.
“Be prepared, you don’t want to wear cotton clothing’s, you want to have waterproof clothing, if not, wear a wetsuit or a dry suit.”
Experts say the currents also tend to speed up in the spring.
“Unless you’re an experience or expert kayaker, you probably shouldn’t be out in the water,” Carpenter said.
“To me, experienced kayakers mean someone that has taken classes, knows what the different types of conditions are, the different risks are, and dresses appropriately for those, and have the right gears for those,” said Braband.
Braband is encouraging people to take lessons, in hopes of preventing any more deaths.
