GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Three men in a fishing boat came to the rescue of a pair of kayakers who fell into the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids.
The accident happened around 4 p.m. Sunday when a woman in her early 50s and a man in his late 40s tipped over into the river near DeVos Place.
Nate and Ross Wellman along with family friend David Vanens said they spotted the couple kayaking down the river toward a dangerous coffer dam.
"We yelled and screamed, 'hey there's a coffer here, signaling a drop' and the gentleman just kind of shrugged us off twice," said Wellman. "As soon as they got to [the dam] they started back pedaling and it turned the kayak sideways and they just went."
Wellman said they saw the couple go over then under. He said the man tried to hold her above water while they fired up their boat and headed over to help, despite the danger to themselves.
"Our boat got caught sideways when we went up to help them. We got a hold of him and we couldn't get him quite in the boat. He was kind of wedged and then we got a hold of her. She was really not in good shape at the time," said Wellman.
The woman slipped in and out of consciousness when the fishermen pulled her from the river. Authorities resuscitated her and took her and the man to the hospital. Both are expected to survive.
The fishermen said they can't quite wrap their heads around being called heroes.
"I don't know we were a couple of guys just trying to go fishing," laughed Wellman.
Reported by John Linsley in downtown Grand RapidsIn your voice
Play 
