<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

First responders rescue man in Columbia River

By John Branton
Published: July 15, 2010, 12:00am

A rescue-boat crew pulled a man from the Columbia River on Wednesday evening after he jumped into the water from the amphitheater and floating boat dock at Vancouver Landing at Terminal One, just downstream from the Interstate 5 Bridge.

Rescuers were called at 6:35 p.m. and arrived in just a couple of minutes, said Jim Flaherty, firefighter-spokesman with the Vancouver Fire Department.

Officers with the Vancouver Police Department arrived first and kept sight of the man as he floated downstream, even as he was carried into the sun’s glare.

“The VPD was really key in giving us information we could then radio to the three boats in the water,” Flaherty said.

Witness Rod McOmber had been fishing for sturgeon from the amphitheater area with his two sons, Chase, 13, and Garret, 9.

Told the man had handed a suicide note to a cab driver, McOmber said he saw police officers arriving as a result.

“Next thing we knew, we saw him in the water,” he said.

The man looked to be about 100 yards from the bank, in the river’s strong current. He was wearing a back pack that was keeping him afloat, McOmber said.

A large boat from Portland Fire & Rescue rushed to help the floating man, along with two other boats from the Multnomah County, Ore., Sheriff’s Office River Patrol and Rescue Boat 1 from the Vancouver Fire Department.

The powerful Portland boat reached the man first and its crew pulled him onboard and returned to the amphitheater dock. There, Vancouver police handcuffed him for safety and he walked with officials up the ramp, wearing a white towel. He did not appear injured.

The ‘cuffs then were removed and he was taken away to a hospital by paramedics with AMR Northwest ambulance service.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.

Loading...