Her sister, Jazmin Hock, 28, cousin, Sarah Vida, 30, and Vida’s son, Kayden Kovalcik, 9, were rescued late Friday afternoon after going missing on Tuesday.

The women are expected to be released from the hospital on Monday.

The boy was released earlier.

The state Department of Natural Resources shared body-worn camera video of the rescue.

Hock’s mother, Theresa Hock, felt numb but hopeful during the rescue effort. She encouraged family and friends to stay positive and would not let her mind go to bad places.

“We knew the clock was ticking,” she said.

“I was trying to keep everybody’s spirits up and I was holding everybody else and telling everybody else they’re coming home, they’re just lost. I just had a gut feeling.

“And the day they found them, when I got up that morning, I knew that was going to be the day that were going to find them, I just didn’t know what time.”

As the day went on, she started to get nervous. Then, around 4:35 p.m. Friday, they were found.

State DNR conservation officers and a state police tracking dog found them about three-quarters of a mile northeast of the Mill Iron Road boat launch.

Jazmin Hock grew up in the area.

State police said that the two women and boy were on inflatable tubes. Family members said the rafts started to pop and break up before the three went to shore.

They thought it best to stay together.

Rescuers from across West Michigan took part in the rescue effort, on land, water and air.

“This is the outcome everyone involved had hoped for,” state police Lt. Pat Agema said on X.

Before her daughter left the hospital on Monday, Theresa Hock said: “I feel incredibly blessed.”

Her family first became concerned on Tuesday. Her long-time boyfriend, Randy Christie, checked boat launches in the area. He found the vehicle they were riding in parked at the Maple Island boat launch.

He and the rest of the family began “looking for my babies” but could not find them, Theresa Hock said. They did not know if arrangements were made to pick the three up after the river float, she said.

Her daughter, niece and great-nephew walked through heavy vegetation, with legs cut by sharp leaves. Prickers remained stuck in their skin until they got to the hospital.

Throughout the ordeal, they listened for the sound of traffic, or rescuers, and hoped they might run into a residence.

During the search, rescuers found their tubes, described by Theresa Hock as “floaties,” rather than river rafts. Rescuers also found footprints that were believed to be her family members.

She said that so many people wanted to help look but were asked to stay off the river.

“You know, it was hard not being able to get out there when (rescuers) were out there trying to look for them. But when people were out there, it was really hindering them because you know when they’re out there yelling, ‘Hello,’ (rescuers are) thinking someone’s saying, ‘Help.’”

She said rescuers “were very patient” with others trying to help.

The DNR posted video of rescuers finding the lost rafters. Conservation officers Anna Cullen, Seth Rhodea and Cameron Wright, who found the missing rafters, are trained to look for details in the environment that others might overlook.

“My partner and I work this area all the time, we know it very well,” Wright said.

“We checked this spot based on our training and knowledge of the area – we knew this specific location is the most remote area that the tubers could have been pulled to and it would be a bad spot to get lost because it’s the furthest point from any roads or houses.

“We could see in the middle of the log jam a path in the grass – the tubers came down some logs and went through water, then onto the riverbank and into the trees. We were able to see where they entered the woods and requested assistance once we located footprints in the mud. We followed the track, looking for areas where ferns were tipped over, grass was bent, sticks were snapped – all in a certain direction.”

Egelston Township Fire Department shared the following safety tips:

• Let someone know your planned route and approximate time your trip will take
• Tell someone your entrance and planned exit locations
• Check the weather
• Charge your cell phone
• Pack snacks, and extra water
• Bring a change of clothes or use quick drying swim wear
• Consider using fitted water shoes
• Use flotation devices that can handle the river conditions
• If you are not a strong swimmer, wear an approved life jacket
• Always travel with a buddy

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