A 16-year-old swimmer drowned on Wednesday, Aug. 13, in the Columbia River at Frenchman’s bar in Vancouver despite Clark County Fire District 6 (CCFD 6) calling the rescue efforts, “a Herculean effort,” from numerous rescue agencies.
A CCFD 6 news release stated that, according to witnesses, the 16-year-old was swimming toward a nearby wing dam in the river when he suddenly went underwater and didn’t resurface. They estimated he was about 20 yards offshore at the time, the release added.
At the same time, Vancouver Fire was called to a two-alarm fire, so resources were stretched thin, CCFD 6 stated…