Published: Saturday, May 12, 2012, 7:06 p.m.
Kayaker rescued on Skykomish River near Index
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INDEX -- Emergency crews on Saturday rescued a stranded kayaker on the Skykomish River east of Index.
Firefighters were summoned around 1:30 p.m. to an area east of Index-Galena Road on the north fork of the river. They received reports that a Bellevue man, 50, was trapped in a kayak and drowning, Snohomish County sheriff's Lt. Rodney Rochon said.
Two fellow kayakers were able to pull the man to gravel bar and performed life-saving efforts to revive him, Rochon said.
The man was breathing and conscious when firefighters reached him. A rescue crew brought the man to shore. He declined further medical attention or a ride to a local hospital.
The man was properly equipped with a life jacket and drysuit. He admitted, however, that he was too inexperienced for that stretch of the river, Rochon said.
Despite the sunny weather, the county's rivers are cold. They're also high and running fast, Rochon said. He advised people to use extreme caution.
Firefighters were summoned around 1:30 p.m. to an area east of Index-Galena Road on the north fork of the river. They received reports that a Bellevue man, 50, was trapped in a kayak and drowning, Snohomish County sheriff's Lt. Rodney Rochon said.
Two fellow kayakers were able to pull the man to gravel bar and performed life-saving efforts to revive him, Rochon said.
The man was breathing and conscious when firefighters reached him. A rescue crew brought the man to shore. He declined further medical attention or a ride to a local hospital.
The man was properly equipped with a life jacket and drysuit. He admitted, however, that he was too inexperienced for that stretch of the river, Rochon said.
Despite the sunny weather, the county's rivers are cold. They're also high and running fast, Rochon said. He advised people to use extreme caution.
Story tags » • Index • Accidents (general) • Skykomish River
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