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

Valley deputy swims out to rescue apparently suicidal man in Spokane River

From staff reports

A Spokane Valley deputy entered the Spokane River on Saturday to rescue an apparently suicidal man who had fallen from a bridge.

Witnesses told deputies an intoxicated man was walking into traffic on Trent Avenue near Pines Road around 3:30 p.m., according to a news release from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. The man then climbed over the Trent Bridge guardrail and was staring at the river before he fell in.

Deputies found the man stuck on brush in the river about 300 feet downstream. He had fallen 75 to 100 feet, the release said.

Four deputies tried to throw a flotation device to the man, but he refused to grab it and swam further away from shore, the release said.

Spokane Valley Deputy Tom Walker put on a flotation device and entered the river, grabbing the man and a rope thrown into the river. Other deputies pulled Walker and the man to shore.

The man received medical treatment at the scene and was taken to the hospital.