SOUTH KING COUNTY, Wash. — A missing man was found out on the Green River after a multi-department rescue operation was organized overnight.
South King County firefighters and rescue crews from across the county were up and moving at around 1 a.m. this morning to help Mountain View Fire and Rescue search for a reported missing man on the Green River.
According to Mountain View Fire and Rescue, a tubing group called 911 at around 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday after they realized one member had become separated while floating the Green River near Whitney Bridge in unincorporated King County.
Rescue kayaks began searching both upstream and downstream near Whitney Bridge Park while the King County Sheriff’s Office began tracking cell phone location data to narrow the search area. KCSO also used a drone equipped with forward-looking infrared (FLIR) to scan the river and help direct water rescue crews to a potential search area.
“The search required firefighters to operate in moving water in complete darkness, navigating the river by kayak while coordinating with aerial resources overhead,” wrote Mountain View Fire. “The combination of ground, water, and aerial search efforts allowed crews to systematically search the area while maintaining responder safety.”
Just before 2:30 a.m., South King firefighters confirmed that after hours of searching, rescuers found the missing man stranded on a rock in the river. He was safely rescued and brought to the Whitney Bridge boat launch, evaluated, and released, officials confirmed.
“Tonight’s outcome reflects the strength of regional teamwork & coordination even in the middle of the night on a river,” wrote fire officials, thanking Mountain View Fire & Rescue, King County Sheriff’s Office, King County Medic One, Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, South King Fire, Valley Regional Fire Authority, Renton Regional Fire Authority, Enumclaw Fire Department, and Skyway Fire for their combined efforts.
Mountain View Fire & Rescue added the following statement:
“This incident highlights the value of regional cooperation during complex emergencies. No single agency maintains all of the specialized resources needed for every incident, but by working together, neighboring departments can quickly assemble personnel, equipment, and expertise to safely resolve challenging situations such as a nighttime water rescue.
Water Safety Reminder: Anyone enjoying rivers or other waterways should always wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. If you become separated from your group or find yourself stranded, remain where you are if it is safe to do so. Staying in one location significantly improves rescuers’ ability to locate you quickly and safely."