The swift action of firefighters saved the life of a man who was close to drowning in the Willamette River, near Meldrum Bar Park.
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, firefighters were dispatched to an initial report of a male trapped inside a vehicle that was in the river, and reportedly had exited the submerging vehicle and was in distress. Arriving first on scene, firefighters quickly put on their personal floatation devices and identified a male struggling in the water. Due to the immediate threat to the male’s safety, two firefighters jumped in to prevent him from drowning.
During the rescue efforts of the two firefighters in the water, the other two firefighters took throw bags to the nearest shore. The ropes from the throw bags landed right over the top of the three of them and the two firefighters on the shore were able to pull the rescuers and the male to safety. Upon their arrival on-scene, firefighters located and pulled the victim out of the water in 2 minutes and 44 seconds.
Once out of the water, the male was treated and transported by American Medical Response to an area hospital.
Battalion Chief Greg Holland said, “If the crew from Engine 315 had not done what they did [performed a high-risk rescue], the male would have drowned. He was out of time, out of breath, and out of energy to keep going.”
Clackamas Fire District would like to thank the community for their ongoing support of the Emergency Services Levy. As part of the year one plan, firefighters from Station 15 in Oregon City received an increase in firefighter staffing, along with four other fire stations across the Fire District. This increase in staffing improves response capabilities that ultimately saved this man’s life.
The photos are courtesy of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit.
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