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Kayaker dies in accident on Fox River in Geneva

One man was killed and another man was injured Saturday after kayaking near a dam on the Fox River in Geneva, authorities said.

Bystanders saw the men lose control of a two-person kayak shortly after launching it into the river about 4:30 p.m., Geneva fire officials said in a news release. The strong current carried it and the boaters over a low-head dam in Geneva, according to the release.

A 26-year-old man was found unconscious and floating down river from the dam. The man was rescued by two bystanders - Kevin O'Conner, an Ottawa police officer, and Mark Stankus, of West Chicago - and Geneva firefighters. He was taken to Delnor Hospital in Geneva where he was reported to be recovering. The second man, also 26, was stuck in the kayak and recovered from the boil in front of the dam about 6 p.m. by emergency responders, Geneva Lt. Todd Loomis said.

The second kayaker was pronounced dead by paramedics after consulting with the emergency room staff at Delnor, according to the news release.

The two men who went over the dam were from a group of six friends from the Bloomington, Ill., area and who had rented three, two-person kayaks for a trip on the river. The four other friends were not injured and remained on the scene during recovery operations. They were assisted by the American Red Cross.

Batavia and St. Charles fire departments also responded.

Emergency responders and two bystanders pulled another kayaker, also 26, from the Fox River. The man is recovering in a Geneva hospital, officials say. Courtesy of Christopher Bui
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