A man had to be taken via Life Flight to an area hospital after he jumped from a steep bank into a popular swimming hole in Camas Sunday evening.
Crews from Camas-Washougal Fire Department were called to an area known as “the potholes” in Lacamas Park at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday for a report of an injured swimmer, Battalion Chief Larry Larimer said.
The water coming off of Round Lake falls onto sandstone and creates large holes that fill with water, making it a popular spot for swimmers, Larimer said. The area also has steep banks and the agency frequently responds to the spot to rescue injured swimmers who jumped from the banks, Larimer said.
In fact, the agency has responded to so many calls there that they do their rope system training in the area, he added.
Emergency crews arrived Sunday evening to find the injured man at the water’s edge complaining of pain in several places, Larimer said.
“It’s unknown what he impacted, but he had obvious injuries and lots of pain,” Larimer said.
He was conscious and alert when paramedics placed him on a backboard and into a rescue basket. Crews used a rope and pulley system to pull the man up the steep incline, Larimer said. The man was treated at the scene before he was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center via Life Flight.
Larimer said that even though training has prepared the crews for responding to such technical emergencies, he warned that the situation could have gone differently.
“I understand it’s an attractive place for people to go, but they’re putting themselves at great risk,” he said. “It’s difficult to rescue them. Thank goodness his injuries weren’t immediately life threatening.”
