Marine Patrol rescues family near state park

4 free views left!

Marine Patrol rescues family near state park

By Dee Riggs
World staff writer

Originally published May 27, 2012 at 4:13 p.m., updated May 27, 2012 at 4:27 p.m.

EAST WENATCHEE — A Tukwila family is safe today, thanks to the efforts of Douglas County sheriff’s deputies on marine patrol.

Deputies rescued the man, woman and their 6-year-old son from the Columbia River about 4 p.m. Saturday after the three apparently fell off the personal watercraft that they had been riding, said Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal.

Gjesdal said the deputies saw the riderless watercraft in the river off Lincoln Rock State Park near the north end of Turtle Rock Island. There was a life jacket floating nearby.

The deputies then saw the three people huddled together and floating, without life jackets, about 50 yards from the watercraft.

“They appeared to be struggling to stay afloat and went under water two to three times before the patrol boat came along side of them,” the sheriff said in a press release.

The deputies pulled the three from the water and into the patrol boat. Gjesdal said they were conscious but were extremely cold and shaking. The family was treated for exposure at Central Washington Hospital, then was discharged.

Their names were not available. Gjesdal said he did not know how the family ended up off their watercraft.

Gjesdal praised the efforts of deputies Rich Poppie and Dean Schlaman. “Had the deputies not been on patrol and spotted the family, this situation could have ended tragically,” he said.

Dee Riggs: 664-7147

deeriggs@wenatcheeworld.com

» Recommend this story.

» 14 comments on this story

Want to comment on this story? All Wenatchee World members are invited to comment on stories, by using the form below. Please know that we at wenatcheeworld.com hope our site is useful, entertaining and civil. So we'll delete comments that are obscene, abusive or way off topic. We appreciate it when readers use the "suggest removal" button to flag inappropriate comments. For more about interacting with the site, see our Use Policy.

lonedog3 12 months ago

LIFE JACKETS--LIFE JACKETS--LIFE JACKETS!! how many times do people have to be told to wear LIFE JACKETS When operating watercraft? thank you Douglas County Sherrifs for being alert enough to save this family! when on our boat the wife and I have the automatic inflatables that are comfortable to wear. they cost more but what price do you put on a life? we cannot see the future so always wear ours! Thank you again douglas county sheriffs!

lonedog3 12 months ago

I have now seen this story in 3 places, the associated press (no name wattached as to who reported it, komo news and now the wenatchee with "dee riggs" name attached as the writer. the AP and KOMO stories are dated earlier than the world story. can I just take someones story and put my name to it?

Midauter 12 months ago

Two ways I can see this happening: the Sheriff's Office sends out a press release to multiple media outlets and they print it nearly verbatim OR the Wenatchee World puts their story out on the AP "wire" for wider consumption. Either way, no plagerism.

JimboBear 12 months ago

"Your personal vendeta with the Wenatchee World is getting a bit carried away."

Not to mention it's becoming wearisome. No offense Joe, but I'm sure you must know that your complaining isn't going to change the WW's policies or the quality of the reporting as you see it. Put in an application and go to work for them if you have something to offer that could improve their product.

wsucougsgirl 12 months ago

Amen Jim!

Mikeh 12 months ago

Great rescue story...hats off to an excellent rescue and a happy ending, good work deputies. Good news has been in short supply lately. BTW, the water in the river systems around here is nothing but ice water for the next month or so and ski vests in conjunction with conservative boating (ie don't fall in the water under any circumstances) are a must.

christijohnson 12 months ago

@ Lonedog -

Really? How about saying GREAT job to the rescue?

Have you ever commented positively on an article?

wsucougsgirl 12 months ago

Oops! Meant to hit "reply" I agree, would be nice to see the positive efforts complimented. The constant complaints from the same person is a bit overdone.

cbuick 12 months ago

Thanks to the Marine Patrols of both Douglas and Chelan counties (including the civilian volunteers) for being on the water and for being vigilant. Even though PFD laws require only children to wear them, they will not work in a sudden accident unless they are actually donned and properly fastened. so please wear them all the time. They are required to be worn on personal watercraft, canoes, kayaks and rafts by everyone, but they will not work unless they are fastened. (Note to Joe: the time stamp in the date line doesn't indicate who published the story first. I'd bet that Dee Riggs wrote the story first an then posted it on the AP wire. She probably didn't post it on WW website until later.)

christijohnson 12 months ago

cbuick- thank you for your comment! It's good to read positive on this forum!

charlie 12 months ago

Could have been a real tragedy.

Annsboy 12 months ago

I use to be a strong swimmer and have spent thousands of hours on the columbia river sking but when the water is still in the 40's it saps the strength out of you so fast it is shocking. I used to wear a dry suit untill June when the water finally broke into the low 50's at which point it didn't take your breath away.

kyook 12 months ago

I have been a sea kayaker for several years and have spent some time in the waters of Alaska. From the reading that I have done, I have learned that cold water immersion can not only kill from hypothermia but it can cause heart attacks even in strong, healthy individuals. Cold water is nothing to mess around with. A boater should be very mindful of the conditions and dress not for the air temperature but for the water temperature instead, and PFD's all around are mandatory. This family is very lucky to be alive. Kudos to the Douglas County sheriff’s deputies on marine patrol.