Local

Naked man rescued from Green River

BLACK DIAMOND, Wash. — A naked man and his dog were rescued from an island on the Green River Wednesday morning after they fell into the water during a walk-turned-rafting trip.

Black Diamond fire and a King County marine unit were called to the Green Valley area between Auburn and Black Diamond and found the man in some bushes on a small island that was partially submerged.

The man told police he went on a long walk of at least six miles on the Green Valley Road with his dog, Ozzie, on Tuesday.   When his feet began hurting and blistering, he pulled an inflatable raft out of his backpack and decided to float downstream.

The man's raft flipped while he was trying to go around a boat ramp, and he and his dog were tossed into the river.

He spent the night on an island with his dog and took off his wet clothes to avoid hypothermia.

Mountain View Fire and Rescue and Black Diamond Fire Department spokesman Tim Perciful said a couple of construction workers called for help after they heard the man yelling and saw him on the island.

Rescuers used an inflatable backboard to rescue the man and his dog.  
He went to the hospital to check for injuries and was later released.
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