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DEM #00-1684 September 6, 2000 |
The Unit was contacted on the 6th of September by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management to help in the reopened search for a lost kayaker in Skagit County. Were asked to assemble members for a search the following Sunday the 10th of September.
The following report was submitted by Fran Martoglio:
A kayaker had been lost earlier this year on the Cascade River and his body had not been recovered. Skagit County (through Tom Miner) asked us to come up on Sunday 9/10 because the water level had lowered in the river and attempt a search of the river and possible recovery. The following members responded: Jeff Sharp, Chris Berryman, Ken Capron, Rod Scott, Ben Constance, Tom Miner, Jason Miner, John Miner, Stan Kartes, Victor Caro, Jim Andrues, Rick Lorenz, Rick Wire and myself.
Earlier in the week, they had flown over the river and many parts of it were visible. In the middle of the river, were 7, 30' steel girders. The kayaker's paddling partner had last seen him go under these.
Unfortunately, by Sunday rains had returned and the river had risen to a level that was not searchable. However; a bank search was conducted around the girder area and downstream with no success. If weather cooperates and the river lowers again, we may be asked to return for a search under the girders.
The following report on the later continuation of the search was provided by Tom Miner, Pierce County Sheriffs Deputy:
We went up on Thursday with 4 divers, 1 SAR coordinator, 4 Mt Rescue and 2 ESAR/TMRU members. We met Skagit at the Texaco and they had one Mt Rescue member. They also brought their food unit and comm van to support us.
We decided to go with the mission despite having such a low turnout from the volunteers. I needed the divers and they had a training day on Thursday so I got them for 8 hours at regular time vs many overtime hours on the weekend.
We reached the girders and sent out three divers with TMRU swiftwater in support positions. They searched the girders to about a 90% POD. We found a kayak paddle, probably his. This is the red item I saw from the air when we scouted it in September.
If he was there we feel that the force of the water has dismembered him. The wood and other debris in those girders was so mangled from the pressure of water straining through the steel beams that a human body in the same position would not survive intact for long.
Skagit is satisfied and will not be doing any further searching pending any new evidence or leads. They were very appreciative of our efforts.
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