SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Life jackets and a fast response from rescue crews likely saved the lives of two men canoeing on the Spokane River.
They two men — one who is 81-years old — put their canoes into the water on Wednesday afternoon. When they hit a patch of rough water, they were flipped out of their boats and into the fast-moving water.
The Spokane Fire Department told KXLY-TV 36 people were out searching for the men. Department spokesman Craig Cornelius says life jackets likely saved them, as well as their ability to get out of the water and the fast rescue.
Wednesday’s rescue was the third water rescue on the Spokane river in the past two weeks. Cornelius reminds boaters to wear life jackets.
