Police Marine Unit officers rescued a kayaker this afternoon after his craft flooded and tipped over into the chilly waters of theChicagoRiver in theWest LoopGate neighborhood.
 
The mishap happened in the river between Washington and Randolph Streets at 1:40 p.m., according to Chicago Police Marine Unit Sgt. Ed Beltran.
 
A boat was rushed to the scene and found the man, who was on the surface of the 50-degree water that is between 17 to 20 feet deep.

That area is popular for kayakers, the sergeant added.
 
“He fell in. He was just in for a while. The water is cold,’’ the sergeant said.

Probably, the kayak became flooded and tipped over. “He just wasn’t able to get back on,’’ Beltran said.
 
“They got him on the boat and dropped him off on the shore,’’ said Beltran. The man declined medical attention.
 
Chicago Fire Departmentcrews also went to the scene but they did not transport anyone, according to spokesman Kevin MacGregor.