KITTITAS COUNTY, Wash. — The body of an 86-year-old woman was recovered from the Yakima River Thursday, according to the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Department.
At about 5 p.m. Thursday, rescuers were called to a report of a drowning in the Yakima River, just below the Elk Meadows community.
The Kittitas County Sheriff said a group of friends from the Renton and Redmond areas were staying in Elk Meadows and had planned on floating on the river from Wapiti Drive to Golf Course Road.
Officials said the group of six, ranging in ages from 59 to 86, held a safety meeting before launching. All had life vests and were using fishing-style float tubes and pontoon boats.
Some of the group capsized when they hit a log jam, and three people went under water.
Two of those people, a 64-year-old woman and a 76-year-old man, were able to make it to shore. Working together, the group was eventually able to pull an 86-year-old Renton woman out of the water and onto shore, where they began CPR.
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She was estimated to have been under water for 10 minutes and did not survive.
The other two people were helped across the river by Kittitas County swift water team members and Fire District 7 personnel. They were checked out by Cle Elum Medic 1 and had no injuries.
“This tragedy illustrates the need for continuing outreach and education about water safety. Swimming and the use of non-motorized watercraft are among Kittitas County’s top recreational activities and it is very easy to underestimate the power generated by even slow-moving water. Hazards on the Yakima River can change daily so it is imperative to understand the risks. One of the leading factors in fatalities on the Yakima River is improper matching of vessel maneuverability and operator abilities as they relate to the potential hazards. We strongly encourage people unfamiliar with our waterways to contact the sheriff’s marine unit. We can help you evaluate your skills and equipment relative to the areas you wish to recreate,” said Kittitas County Sheriff Clay Myers.
Members of the sheriff’s marine unit or swift water rescue team can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the dispatch center at 509-925-8534.
Cox Media Group
