By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 63-year-old Tacoma man escaped with only mild hypothermia after a kayaking accident last night near Rochester.
It happened just prior to 10 p.m. on the Black River about a mile north of Rochester.
He and his 60-year-old companion, both from Tacoma, got a late start getting on the river near Littlerock and it was dark when his kayak became tangled in a fallen tree, knocking him into the water, according to West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.
“The male was only able to hold onto the female’s kayak and was in water too deep to stand,” Chief Robert Scott said in a news release. “The male quickly began to weaken due to the effects of the water.”
A dozen firefighters responded to the cell phone call to 911, but it still took 50 minutes to locate the couple, according to Scott. They used a signal from the cell phone, air horns, sirens and communication exchanges with the 911 personnel to pinpoint the couple’s exact location. Scott said they were on a part of the river bordered by several hundred yards of thick underbrush and no direct access to the water.
Crews administered treatment for hypothermia and brought the male off the river in rescue basket, according to Scott. His companion was able to walk out with responders, he said.
Scott said the pair were wearing life vests. He used the incident as a reminder that it’s wise to carry a flashlight, cell phone, and extra clothing on such outings.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter