Searchers find body of missing Green River rafter
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BLACK DIAMOND, Wash. - The body of a man who went missing after his raft overturned in the Green River east of Black Diamond has been found, officials said.
A search was launched after the man, who is in his 60s, disappeared in the frigid, fast-running currents of the Green River on Saturday afternoon.
According to early reports, the incident began when a group of several people set out together in rafts down the Green River near Kanaskat-Palmer State Park. The man who died was with the group, which also included his wife.
As the group was heading downstream toward the Green River Gorge, at about 2:30 p.m., the victim's raft overturned in the strong current.
The man was thrown into the river's frigid waters, which are swollen with snowmelt this time of year.
The other rafters tried to reach the man, but the current was too strong. The man slipped out of his life jacket, and he went hurtling down the river, dragged along by the strong current.
The man's life jacket and raft were found downstream some time later, and his body was discovered at about 6 p.m.
Local fire crews and personnel from the King County Sheriff's Office were involved in the search.
A search was launched after the man, who is in his 60s, disappeared in the frigid, fast-running currents of the Green River on Saturday afternoon.
According to early reports, the incident began when a group of several people set out together in rafts down the Green River near Kanaskat-Palmer State Park. The man who died was with the group, which also included his wife.
As the group was heading downstream toward the Green River Gorge, at about 2:30 p.m., the victim's raft overturned in the strong current.
The man was thrown into the river's frigid waters, which are swollen with snowmelt this time of year.
The other rafters tried to reach the man, but the current was too strong. The man slipped out of his life jacket, and he went hurtling down the river, dragged along by the strong current.
The man's life jacket and raft were found downstream some time later, and his body was discovered at about 6 p.m.
Local fire crews and personnel from the King County Sheriff's Office were involved in the search.
