Photo: Ford, Brad
A woman was rescued from the Santiam River in Stayton Thursady afternoon.
Workers at a Knife River facility called 911 after hearing the woman call for help. She was holding onto brush in the river.
They tried to throw her a flotation device, but she couldn't reach it. Deputies used a rope from the 1st Street Bridge to get the flotation device to her.
The Jefferson Fire District used its boat to reach the woman and a rescue swimmer helped her get to safety.
She lived in a camp near the river and got stuck in the current while trying to leave, because of the rising water levels. She was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Undersheriff Jeff Wood said, “We were fortunate the workers from Knife River heard the victim calling out for help. Their efforts to find the woman and to quickly call 911 definitely made a difference today.”
Several agencies actively participated in this response including the Jefferson Fire District, Stayton Fire District, Stayton Police Department, Salem Fire Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Albany Fire Department, Willamette Valley Communications Center, and METCOM 911.
In anticipation of the heavy rains forecasted this week, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol proactively coordinated with local agencies to ensure water rescue resources were available for situations such as this. The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank our partner agencies for their preparation efforts and swift response.