Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Oregon
STRANDED KAYAKER RESCUED AT LAVA ISLAND FALLS
Occurred: 07-25-2018 / 5:42 PM
Location: Lava Island Falls
Rescued: Bend resident, 13 yo male
On 07-25-2018 at approximately 5:42 PM, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Bend Fire Department responded to a water rescue at Lava Island Falls located on the Deschutes River south of Bend. The initial report indicated a kayaker had become separated from his kayak, but had made it to a small rocky island in the middle of the river.
Deputies and initial responders from Bend Fire Department located the subject standing on a small rocky island between Lava Island and the east bank of the Deschutes River surrounded by rapids. Lava Island Falls is considered Class V whitewater.
Due to the subject’s location and the nature of the rapids, it was determined a technical rescue was necessary to move the subject safely to shore.
Additional rescuers were summoned to the scene including 9 Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Swiftwater Team members and several members of the Bend Fire Department Special Rescue Team. Both agencies worked together to develop a both tether system, which includes a rescue raft tethered to both shores and upstream haul system to maneuver the raft to the subject. Two rescue swimmers were transported to the location of the kayaker where they assisted him into the raft and back to the east shore.
The subject was uninjured. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank several area residents who reported the incident, directed rescuers to the scene, hauled equipment, and remained with the subject until responders arrived. The Sheriff’s Office is also thankful for the skill and professionalism of our partner agencie
