Family Rescued After Being Lost in Michigan Wilderness
A dramatic video captures the moment when a family of three was rescued after spending three days lost in the woods, following a tubing mishap in a Michigan river.
The footage features efforts from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources alongside Michigan State Police K-9 units as they searched for Jazzman Hock, his cousin Sara Vida, and her 9-year-old son Kayden Kowalcik, who were stranded in the Muskegon River on August 8.
In the video, rescuers tell the family to “make noise… scream!” as they approached through thick underbrush, finally reaching them after considerable effort.
One of the women was injured and wearing a bathing suit, with Kowalczyk shirtless when they were found. Jazzman’s mother recounted to a local news outlet that the group had been using inflatable tubes in the river, which led to trouble when their raft broke down, leaving them stuck. “They had me eating bark and ants,” Hock revealed.
Upon finding them, the rescue team listened as the family explained their ordeal. “We got lost in the river,” said Kowalczyk, describing their four-hour struggle in the water.
Rescue workers seemed visibly relieved and sympathetic, with one offering reassurance to one of the women, saying, “You did your best, you did your best.” Another rescuer suggested she sit down due to her injuries, to which she replied, “I’m forcing myself.”
Hock mentioned that they had packed protein bars and water but ended up giving everything to Kayden, while the two adults resorted to foraging for food. They managed to survive on flowers, bark, and ants.
Michigan State Police expressed relief upon announcing that the family was found safe. They highlighted the coordinated efforts of various agencies, noting how remarkable it was to see multiple organizations come together for a shared goal. “It’s a good outcome for everyone involved,” they stated.
The trio was located approximately three-quarters of a mile northeast of the Mill Iron Road Boat Launch around 4:36 p.m.
