Kayaker rescues 5-year-old ripped from tube, NY cops say. Two adults charged

A 5-year-old was pulled underwater after a current forced them off a tube, leaving them on a river island, New York troopers said.

On June 7, troopers were sent after getting reports of a 5-year-old who was tubing with a group in a river in Canisteo, according to a news release by the New York State Police. The group included Tessa Hamilton, 32, and Matthew Martin, 35.

When medical personnel arrived, they found the child with a group of adults in an area that wasn’t accessible, troopers said. Police then used ropes to cross the river.

Officers said they later learned Martin and Hamilton were tubing in the river with the child when a “current pulled them into a partially submerged tree.”

The child, who was not wearing a flotation device, fell into the water and was rescued by a kayaker, troopers said.

The attempts to reach the group were not successful because of the hazardous conditions, so a boat was deployed to rescue the group, troopers said.

The child was given medical attention and was sent to a hospital for further treatment before being released, troopers said.

Investigators later learned Martin had an active “stay-away Order of Protection” which didn’t allow him to be in contact with Hamilton and the child, officers said.

Hamilton was charged with reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child, troopers said.

Martin was charged with reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal contempt for violation of the active Order of Protection, troopers said.

Canisteo is about a 300-mile drive northwest from New York City.

This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Kayaker rescues 5-year-old ripped from tube, NY cops say. Two adults charged."