Sheriff: Person 'conscious' after being pulled from Sandy River at Glen Otto Park
TROUTDALE, Ore. – A person was rescued from the Sandy River at Glen Otto Park on Sunday evening, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said.
Two of the sheriff’s office land units were called out to the park along the Historic Columbia River Highway on reports of a possible water rescue.
The person was pulled from the river before deputies arrived on-scene, however, they confirmed the person was “conscious and breathing.”
Lifeguards were first stationed at Glen Otto Park in 1999. The station is located on the main pathway to the beach. Lifeguards educate swimmers and offer free life jackets to anyone who wants them.
"Drowning is actually the number one cause of death by accident of kids one to four years old," AMR river rescue coordinator Justine Kilsby said. "A lot of people don’t realize it is actually higher than motor vehicle accidents. Keeping those kids in those life jackets and within arm's reach is very very important."
Swimming within a line of sight of a lifeguard is also just as important.