11/27/12 - Capital Area Dive Team training exercise

On Tuesday morning, November 27, 2012, the Capital Area Dive Team conducted a training exercise in the Grand River in Eaton Rapids. Both the Eaton Rapids and the Eaton Rapids Township fire departments were invited to attend. The scenario involved a capsized canoe in the river with a person calling for help. Fire department personnel responded to make the intial rescue (but were asked to wait for the dive team to catch up). When contact was made with the boater it was determined a second "victim" went down in the water. Dive team members deployed to search for and rescue that "victim". Once the rescued "victim" was brought to shore, he was assisted back into the water for another diver to search for and rescue him. After rescuing the "victim" several times, a final evidence dive was conducted to recover evidence that was on the bottom of the river.