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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Two rescued from the Spokane River in separate incidents

Two people were plucked from the Spokane River Saturday in separate incidents in Spokane Valley and Post Falls.

Multiple callers reported that a man jumped off a bridge into the Spokane River near Trent Avenue and Pines Road shortly before 4 p.m. The Spokane Valley Fire Department’s swift water rescue team was on the river doing their weekly training when the call came in.

The man, who was swept into bushes along the shoreline, apparently didn’t want to be rescued at first and kept pushing the rescue ropes away, according to the fire department. He was eventually helped out of the water by Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputies. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Reports of a kayaker in trouble were called into the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office shortly after noon Saturday below the Post Falls Dam. The Sheriff’s Office rescue team pulled a man, identified as 52-year-old Richard J. Thomas of Hayden, and his kayak to shore. Thomas was wearing a life jacket when his kayak overturned.

The team also recovered a kayak belonging to Thomas’ wife, who was able to make it to shore near Corbin Park.