Kayakers rescued in Columbia River downstream from Tri-Cities

A man and a woman clinging to a kayak in the Columbia River were rescued about 5 p.m. Sunday.

Both were kayaking when the man’s kayak flipped, said Capt. Devin Helland of Benton Fire District 1.

The man grabbed onto the woman’s kayak, but it also overturned, leaving both hanging onto the same kayak.

A Columbia Basin Dive Rescue boat reached them between Hover Park and the Boise Cascade plant. They were conscious and alert when they were taken by ambulance, Helland said.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office and Kennewick emergency responders also helped with the rescue.

This story was originally published May 8, 2016 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Kayakers rescued in Columbia River downstream from Tri-Cities."