PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two water rescues that occurred back-to-back on Saturday near the same area of the Willamette River in Albany highlight the “unpredictable” nature of river currents, first responders said.
The water rescues happened just hours apart near the same fast-moving area of the river, in Monteith Park. In each case, people became stranded in a swift current and were unable to climb back ashore due, in part, to overgrown vegetation on the riverbank.
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Thanks to the quick response of the Albany Fire Department and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office River Patrol, there were no serious injuries and both rescues were successful.
The first water rescue happened just before 2 p.m. on Saturday and the second rescue occurred just before 4:30 p.m.
“In both incidents, rescuers located individuals clinging to dense brush along the riverbank, unable to return to shore safely due to strong currents and overgrown vegetation,” the Albany Fire Department said in a press release. “Crews navigated swift, debris-filled water to reach the individuals and successfully brought them to safety using rescue boats.”…