News

Eight people rescued from Stillaguamish River

ARLINGTON, Wash. — Technical rescue teams from five separate agencies rushed into the Stillaguamish River Monday, after eight people became tangled and trapped in a snag of fallen trees.

“It was very dangerous for them,” said Brandon Bates, Assistant Chief of Arlington Fire and Rescue. “The river pushes and pushes, and it’s really cold, so if you’re hanging on to a snag in rushing water, it’s either going to pull you down, or you will have to be pulled out,” he said.

It was the same stretch of the Stillaguamish where 10-year-old Elijah Spratt drowned Sunday. His body was found nearly a mile from where he disappeared while swimming with his family.

Crews aboard the Snohomish County Hovercraft were able to reach the eight near the river Meadows County Park, at about 7 p.m. Two of them were tossed into the river after their canoe overturned on the snag. All were treated and released.

Lindner Craig was among the rescued. “Bring a lifejacket, that’s what I’d say we’d do over again,” she said, noting that Snohomish County has a strict lifejacket law. Anyone caught floating on any device without a lifejacket or a whistle, could face an $87 dollar fine.