Wind capsizes overloaded boat, sending 4 hunters and dog into frigid Columbia
A group of hunters swam for at least half an hour after their boat capsized on the Columbia River on Tuesday morning.
High winds, choppy water and an overloaded boat caused it to capsize along the river about 11 a.m., said Benton County sheriff’s Deputy Adam Flohr. The four hunters and a dog, who were not wearing life jackets, were tossed into the frigid water.
One or two clung to a bag of decoys while the others managed to tread water while people on the shore called 911. The accident was near the Blalock Islands.
The islands are in the river along the Washington and Oregon border near the rural farming community of Paterson, Wash., on Highway 14.
Benton County Fire District 6 firefighters called for help from Benton County sheriff’s deputies and Columbia Basin Dive Rescue to get the men out of the water.
One deputy recruited a group of other boaters to pull two of the men from the water and drop them on the shore about 11:40 a.m., said Flohr.
Benton County sheriff’s deputies pulled the others out. One of the boats also rescued the dog.
The men were treated by medics. Their current condition was not immediately available, but they were all conscious when they were found.
Initial reports were that two people were pulled from the water by rescue crews and two others were helped by another boat in the area.
A LifeFlight medical helicopter was called initially, but was canceled. But the hunters were being medically evaluated for hypothermia.
This story was originally published November 23, 2021 at 12:02 PM.