KENT — Despite pleas from authorities to stay out of the rapidly flowing Cuyahoga River, five more kayakers were rescued Sunday.

According to Kent Fire Capt. Rich Lynn, two kayakers were rescued around 11 a.m. from an island near the Kent Dam. While riding the river rapids, their boat capsized and stranded them. Stow Fire Department and the Portage County Water Rescue Team were brought in to assist the Kent Fire Department in the rescue.

The kayakers were not injured, according to Kent Fire Chief John Tosko.

Kent Fire Department, along with the county team and mutual aid from several surrounding areas, later responded to a call at 2:35 p.m. to rescue three additional kayakers stranded on the same island. All were rescued without injury, Tosko said.

“They came through the shoot there and they’ve got to really push themselves over to the right to get around some trees but they can’t so they end up going straight into these trees that are down,” Tosko said.

According to Lynn, some of the debris in the river that’s creating extreme hazards will be removed. However, Tosko said the water is too fast and high in that area for crews to remove the trees.

Bryan Ritchie of Cuyahoga Falls, James McNea of North Ridgeville and Alexis Habyan of Stow were kayaking in the river Sunday when they saw the county rescue team going up and down the river. Habyan said she was concerned for McNea, who was kayaking for the first time, and decided to ask crews for help out of the water.

“I didn’t want to scare him,” Habyan said.

Kayakers and boaters, regardless of experience, should stay off the river until the water lowers and slows down, Lynn said. The water is high, rough and running as fast as it would in March or April when the snow melts.

Another woman was rescued Saturday morning.

Trees along the banks of the river are eroding, Lynn said. The trees are falling into the water and creating “strainers,” a phenomenon where water can pass the tree but objects — and boaters — remain pinned.

Reporter Kaitlyn McGarvey can be reached at kmcgarvey@recordpub.com or 330-298-1127.