Fishers man pulled from White River after kayaking incident has died

A kayak remains jammed in debris near the Broad Ripple dam of the White River at Westfield Boulevard and 72nd Street, where the river passes below the Monon Trail in Indianapolis, Sunday, July 9, 2017. Two kayakers were in critical condition after being rescued from the "boil," a rapid churning area of the low-head dam. The force of the water pulled off the life vests that both kayakers had been wearing.

Update, 6:30 p.m. July 10: One of two kayakers pulled from the White River Sunday has died, according to IFD. 

Lawrance Morrissey, 48, of Fishers, died Sunday, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department. 

"He grew up in Detroit, Michigan and loved the Detroit Lions," Morrissey's family said in a prepared statement. "He also loved adventure such as warrior runs, motorcycling, kayaking, scuba diving, camping with friends and family, and was a talented artist who enjoyed oil painting. By day Lawrance was a real estate broker and by night a husband to his wife Jennifer and a father to his three beautiful children ages 14, 10, and 8 years old. He will be missed dearly by his surviving wife, kids, parents and three sisters."

The second kayaker, 54, has not yet been identified, although his condition has improved since Sunday, according to IFD.

Earlier, July 9: Two kayakers rescued from the White River Sunday afternoon have been hospitalized.

Shortly before 12:30 p.m., police and fire officials were called to the 7300 block Westfield Boulevard for a possible drowning, dispatchers confirmed.

Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief Rita Reith said two kayakers were in distress on the White River at the Broad Ripple dam.

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"The two kayakers had come out of their boats and were stuck in what we call the boil ... the rapid churning area of the low-head dam that basically traps you and doesn't let you out," Reith said. 

As crews were getting their boat into the water, the first victim was released from the boil. The fire department said firefighters threw him a rope and life jacket. He was able to grab the rope and hold on — with encouragement from people watching from the Monon Bridge above — while an off-duty firefighter grabbed bolt cutters to open the fencing and allow crews to carry the boat to the water.

They were able to pull the first victim onto the boat. He was conscious but exhausted, officials said.

Meanwhile, the second victim was stuck in the boil, unconscious. When the boat started back up stream to pass the victim to medical crews on shore, the second victim was released from the boil and floated downstream before getting stuck in a strainer underneath the Monon Bridge.

In order to get in front of the second victim, crews gunned their boat's engine, with the first victim still on board, to become airborne and jump over the strainer, officials said. The rescuers were able to speed ahead, turn the boat 180 degrees and pull the second victim on board.

Cyclists and pedestrians stop along the Monon Trail, viewing the remnants of a water rescue near the Broad Ripple dam of the White River at Westfield Boulevard and 72nd Street, where the river passes below the Monon Trail in Indianapolis, Sunday, July 9, 2017. Two kayakers were in critical condition after being rescued from the "boil," a rapid churning area of the low-head dam. The force of the water pulled off the life vests that both kayakers had been wearing.

Witnesses said both men, one in his 50s and one in his 40s, were wearing life vests when they first went into the water. But Reith explained that the strength of the rushing water as they were trapped in the boil pulled the vests from their bodies. 

The kayakers were taken to Methodist Hospital for treatment.

"Both patients are in critical condition. One was alert and one was not," Reith said. "Very, very dangerous situation today ... this is one of those days when we're asking people not to be on the river today. Water is up well over a foot and a half, maybe two feet. The current is running about 8 knots. It's very swift water today.

"If you're not on the water, please don't get on it now."

IndyStar reporter Emma Kate Fittes contributed to this report.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.