Full Breakdown
Family Rescued After Three Days Lost on Michigan’s Muskegon River
8/11/2026, 9:37:08 PM
How the Family Became Stranded
Jazman Hock, her cousin Sarah Vida, and Vida’s 9-year-old son Kayden Kovalcik set out tubing on the Muskegon River using rafts intended for pool use. The rafts broke apart, leaving the trio adrift and unable to navigate back to shore. Over the next three days they survived on limited supplies, with the adults subsisting on flowers, bark and insects while giving their food to the child.
Search Effort and Coordination
Local authorities launched a multi-agency search after the family was reported missing. Teams from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and a Michigan State Police (MSP) K-9 unit combed the river corridor, wading through dense vegetation and calling out to the missing party. The coordinated effort operated under a Unified Command structure, allowing resources from law-enforcement, fire departments, emergency responders and volunteers to be shared efficiently.
Official Response
In a post on the social-media platform X, Michigan State Police thanked the numerous agencies and volunteers involved, describing the outcome as the result of “highly trained professionals” working together. The agency highlighted that the family was located approximately three-quarters of a mile northeast of the Mill Iron Road boat launch at 4:36 p.m., and emphasized the importance of the joint command system in achieving the safe recovery.
Key Details
- People involved: Jazman Hock, Sarah Vida, Kayden Kovalcik (child).
- Location: Muskegon River, near the Mill Iron Road boat launch in Michigan.
- Duration missing: Three days.
- Rescue time: Late afternoon, with the family found alive and unharmed.
- Agencies participating: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State Police K-9 unit, local fire departments, emergency responders and volunteer search teams.
The incident underscores the risks of using equipment unsuited for river conditions and illustrates how coordinated multi-agency responses can locate missing individuals even after extended periods in remote wilderness.
