Tour Commander, 509.625.7100
Monday, December 12, 2022 at 10:05 a.m.
At approximately 12:41 pm on Saturday December 10, units from the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) and Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) were dispatched to a Water Rescue at the Spokane Police Department (SPD) Training Center at 2302 N. Waterworks. The SPD had reported an adult male was discovered alongside the river at their Training Center (a secure facility adjacent to the upriver dam). The male proceeded to enter the river and disappear beneath the surface soon thereafter. While waiting for water rescue resources from the Fire Department to arrive, a close eye was kept on the river, but the male never resurfaced.
The SFD and SVFD responded with a water rescue task force. Operations at the dam were shut down, Fire Department kayaks were deployed, the Sheriff Dive Team was summoned and a drone from the SPD was utilized to search from above. After 1 hour of searching the river, the male was located by a Sheriff Dive Team member in approximately 15 feet of water near the point last seen.
In consultation with medical control, any life support measures were ceased.
There were no reported injuries to any first responders as a result of the incident.
