Posted @ 11:28 am

Just prior to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night, firefighters from Downtown Portland's Station 1 and SE Portland's Station 21 responded to calls to help two people in the Willamette River near the Steele Bridge. Apparently, one person had jumped into the river and was having a difficult time. Another individual jumped in to help the struggling person. The two persons in the water were found near the sea wall holding on to a 1 inch cement lip.

A life ring was thrown from the top of the sea wall by land-based Station 1 firefighters until the responding river units could make contact with the struggling swimmers. Rescue craft swimmer and rescue technician, Scott Pollard, jumped into the river and directed the better swimmer to the swim board on the rescue craft and assisted the other swimmer to the Eldon Trinity Rescue Boat. The two rescued swimmers were taken to the dock in front of Station 21. One person, a 54 year-old male, was treated by PF&R paramedics and transported to a local hospital.

With the summer months and warmer weather returning to the Portland area, Portland Fire & Rescue reminds citizens to adequately prepare for summer activities like swimming. Have a plan, know your own limitations, have a swim buddy, and before just jumping into any body of water - know your surroundings.