Two Hermiston men were rescued Sunday after they were stranded on a pair of small islands in the Umatilla River.
Around 4:48 p.m., Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office dispatch received a report that two adult males attempting to kayak the Umatilla River had lost their kayaks and were stranded on separate small islands midstream near river mile 2. Both were wearing life jackets but had been stranded for over two hours.
Deputy Todd Siex with the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office and Senior Marine Deputy Rowen Hayes responded to the scene. Umatilla City Fire Department responded with their 4-meter rigid inflatable boat. Umatilla County Fire District #1 and Irrigon Fire Department responded with their swift water rescue personnel.
Hayes, Siex and two personnel from Umatilla County Fire District were able to quickly rescue Eliott G. Lowery, a 33-year-old from Hermiston, using a rope and pivot recovery.
The second rescue required a bank rescue and was more difficult because of thick impassable vegetation along the east bank and the width of the river on the west bank. Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue member Daniel Gardner also joined the rescue.
Eventually, team members of the Umatilla County Fire District were able to locate and reach the second male, 32-year-old William R. Rhoades from Hermiston, by crawling through a deer trailer that led to a bank near him. The other teams were able to come in from an upstream location to help with the rescue.
Both kayakers were medically assessed, warmed, and hydrated by Umatilla City Fire Department personnel at the scene before being released.
