Kayaker rescued after nearly drowning in Skykomish River
INDEX, Wash. - A kayaker was rescued after he became trapped and nearly drowned Saturday on the North Fork of the Skykomish River near Index, emergency officials said.
A Snohomish County Sheriff's Office spokesman said multiple units responded to the scene, about five miles east of Index, at about 1:35 p.m. after receiving a report of a kayaker in trouble.
Two fellow kayakers were able to get the victim onto a gravel bar and performed CPR to revive him.
When rescue teams arrived, they conducted a river crossing to recover the victim and get him to shore to a waiting medic unit.
Medics resuscitated the man, but he refused to be taken to the hospital against medical advice for treatment of a near drowning.
Emergency officials said the victim, a 50-year-old Bellevue man, was properly equipped, with a lifejacket and dry suit, and was in a kayak suitable for the river.
But the man admitted to responders that he lacked the experience for the stretch of the river where he ran into trouble.
The water temperature was only 45 degrees, and the Skykomish River - like all other mountain-fed rivers in Western Washington - is still running high and fast.
The incident is still under investigation by the Snohomish County Marine Services Unit.
A Snohomish County Sheriff's Office spokesman said multiple units responded to the scene, about five miles east of Index, at about 1:35 p.m. after receiving a report of a kayaker in trouble.
Two fellow kayakers were able to get the victim onto a gravel bar and performed CPR to revive him.
When rescue teams arrived, they conducted a river crossing to recover the victim and get him to shore to a waiting medic unit.
Medics resuscitated the man, but he refused to be taken to the hospital against medical advice for treatment of a near drowning.
Emergency officials said the victim, a 50-year-old Bellevue man, was properly equipped, with a lifejacket and dry suit, and was in a kayak suitable for the river.
But the man admitted to responders that he lacked the experience for the stretch of the river where he ran into trouble.
The water temperature was only 45 degrees, and the Skykomish River - like all other mountain-fed rivers in Western Washington - is still running high and fast.
The incident is still under investigation by the Snohomish County Marine Services Unit.
