Tour Commander, 509.625.7100
Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 8:26 a.m.
?At approximately 4:30 pm companies from the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) were dispatched to a water rescue in the Sandifur Bridge near People's Park. SFD units were on scene within 4 minutes of dispatch and reported a distressed male in the river, approximately 25 feet from the north bank needing rescuing.
The male was pinned by the hydraulic force of the river against partially submerged trees. The fast-moving river made a shore-based rescue impossible. The SFD water rescue team using their jet-powered boat was able to launch from the TJ Meenach area, travel upriver, and quickly rescue the male. Once safely in the SFD boat, the male was transported to the south bank of the river and evaluated by SFD paramedics before being released without significant injury.
The male stated he was in an inner tube near the shore when the tube was grabbed by the current that deposited him against the partially submerged trees. He was not wearing a life jacket and could not swim.
There were no reported injuries to SFD personnel as a result of the incident.
The Spokane River's current flow is 16,200 cubic feet per second, with a temperature of 47 degrees F.
