View Other Items in this Archive | View All Archives | Printable Version

STILLAGUAMISH RIVER DROWNING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 1, 2013
CONTACT: Lt Rodney Rochon, Commander Marine Services Unit
rodney.rochon@snoco.org       
Breaking News Pager: 425-339-5700

Arlington, WA –Sunday June 30, 2013 at 3:54 PM SNOPAC received a 911 call of a missing child in the river.  The child had been missing for 5 minutes when the emergency call was made.  Emergency personnel from Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff’s Office Marine Services Unit, Arlington PD, Arlington FD, Stillaguamish Swiftwater  Rescue Team and Sheriff’s Office helicopter SNOHAWK 1 responded.  The child went missing in the river off of the bank of Twin Rivers Park.  The victim was spotted by the helicopter which directed rescue swimmers and divers to a location approximately one-half mile down river where he was recovered.  The victim had to be transported three quarters of a mile from the water to a waiting medic unit.  A Good Samaritan with a four wheel drive vehicle assisted fire personnel by transporting the medics and victim from the waters edge to the waiting ambulance.  The victim was turned to the crew of Medic 46 that initiated life saving measuring that included CPR while transporting him to a local hospital. 

The victim was a 10 year-old boy who was visiting the river with his family.  He was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident and his swimming ability is unknown at this time. The victim has passed away.   His name and personal details will not be released at this time pending the Medical Examiners investigation.

Teaching Points:

Local rivers are cold and the water is moving.  In static conditions (swimming pool) a person stands a 50-50 chance of swimming g 50 yards in 50 degree water.  In a river the distance a person can swim is greatly decreased.

During the rescue operation hovercraft operation were hampered by rafters (7) floating through the scene.  These rafters were contacted and cited for failure to carry required safety equipment (lifejacket and sound device). 

This is the eighth drowning this year in Snohomish County and the second in the Stillaguamish River.