Two men drown in Skykomish River near Sunset Falls

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — Two men drowned Saturday in the South Fork Skykomish River.

Snohomish County search and rescue deputies were called to Cable Drop Trail near Sunset Falls around 2 p.m. for reports of two people drowning.

Bystanders helped pull the two men from the water and first responders attempted CPR, but the men, ages 56 and 54, died at the scene. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said the victims were from the Seattle and Kirkland areas.

Currents are swift in Snohomish County creeks and rivers and water temperatures are around 50 degrees.

Here’s some safety tips from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

• Always wear a life jacket when you are on the water. Never go near moving water without one.
• Beach logs, riverbanks and rocks near the shore are usually slippery. A fall can knock you unconscious and prevent you from being able to save yourself.
• Consider bringing a whistle. If you are in trouble, it could help alert nearby people.
• Keep kids within arm’s reach. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under.
• Don’t dive in. Two-thirds of catastrophic neck injuries occur in open water and the sea.

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