By the Gazette-Times | Posted: Friday, May 16, 2008 12:00 am
Three mid-valley kayakers were rescued Thursday afternoon from the North Santiam River after their kayaks tipped in the swift, swollen river just east of Jefferson after 3 p.m.
One of the young men floated to an island two miles upriver from Green Bridge and called the Jefferson Water Rescue Team about 3:30 p.m. to ask for help and to describe his location.
Elaine Parrott, public information officer for the Jefferson Fire District, identified the three kayakers as Arik Moore, 21, and Eric Harrison, 20, from Corvallis and James Fields, 24, of Albany.
All three had put their kayaks into the North Santiam River at Stayton on Thursday morning and were headed to the Santiam Rest Area. All three were wearing their life jackets and were equipped with whistles.
Rescuers from the Jefferson Fire District, Linn County Sheriff's Office and the Albany Fire Department Water Rescue Team went onto the river and soon located the other two kayakers, who had floated about a quarter of a mile after tipping over, fighting the fast-moving current before managing to reach shore.
All three had been scratched and bruised because they were hit by floating debris in the river, but they did not require medical treatment.
According to the kayakers, the water was very fast and cold, Parrot reported. They had trouble maneuvering their vessels. The current kept taking them toward log jams. They recommended that no one take canoes or kayaks on this river until the water recedes because it is dangerous.
Two of the kayaks were found, but a yellow kayak remains missing. Anyone with information about the kayak can call the Jefferson Fire District at 541-327-2822.