Kayak Rescue from A Sieve
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2026 1:10 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrEp0XYm3LY
I’m sharing this video not to criticize anyone involved, but as a way for all of us who spend time on the river to think about river rescue.
As you watch it, put yourself in the situation.
What would you have done?
What did they do right?
What could have been done differently?
It’s easy to armchair quarterback a rescue when we’re watching from the safety of our phones. It’s a whole different thing when you’re standing beside moving water and have only seconds to make a decision.
One thing that really stands out in this video is how quickly the rescuer can become another victim. You can see several moments where one emergency could very easily have turned into two.
Every rescue is different. Water levels, equipment, experience, access, the condition of the person in trouble—all of it changes the decisions you have to make.
So this isn’t about judging the people in the video. It’s about watching, thinking, and learning.
Watch it as if you were there: What would you do?
I’m sharing this video not to criticize anyone involved, but as a way for all of us who spend time on the river to think about river rescue.
As you watch it, put yourself in the situation.
What would you have done?
What did they do right?
What could have been done differently?
It’s easy to armchair quarterback a rescue when we’re watching from the safety of our phones. It’s a whole different thing when you’re standing beside moving water and have only seconds to make a decision.
One thing that really stands out in this video is how quickly the rescuer can become another victim. You can see several moments where one emergency could very easily have turned into two.
Every rescue is different. Water levels, equipment, experience, access, the condition of the person in trouble—all of it changes the decisions you have to make.
So this isn’t about judging the people in the video. It’s about watching, thinking, and learning.
Watch it as if you were there: What would you do?