Riverfront Park Water Rescue

Tour Commander, 509.625.7100

Monday, December 13, 2021 at 12:26 p.m.

Shortly after 6am this morning (12/13/21) units from the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) were dispatched to Riverfront Park for a water rescue. Just prior to the 911 call, members of an Avista crew were preparing to clear river water intakes just behind the Ice Ribbon when one of the crewmembers heard someone calling for help.  That crewmember spotted the head of a person just above the water. Avista crews reacted quickly, throwing the victim a life ring and calling 911. 

When SFD units arrived on scene, a male was found in the water, hypothermic, and weakened from the temperature of the river. SFD crews placed ladders into the river to assist in rescuing him. The victim, however, was too weak to exit the river on his own. A member of the SFD Technical Rescue team got into the nearly waist deep water and placed a rescue harness on the man. SFD crews were able to utilize the ladder as a lever and safely pick the male from the water and onto shore where he was treated by SFD & AMR Paramedics. The victim was transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Cause of the incident has not yet been confirmed.