Father Dies After Saving Son Swift Current Keeps Rescuers From Reaching Him

An Aberdeen man was able to save his 12-year-old son but drowned in the Humptulips River of southwest Washington when rescuers were unable to reach him because of the swift current.

In a second water accident, divers ended their search Thursday night in the Granite Falls area for an Everett man presumed drowned in the Stillaguamish River.

Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen said searchers had examined the area thoroughly Thursday, employing both a helicopter and an underwater camera.

“It’s a real dangerous operation,” she added.

Divers were looking for the body of Cameron Savage, 33, who was swept over Granite Falls on the river’s south fork. He had been swimming when the accident occurred Tuesday afternoon.

Robert Morris, 41, of Aberdeen died Tuesday at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen.

Morris was pulled from the river about 21 miles north of Aberdeen along U.S. 101, Grays Harbor County coroner John Bebich said.

Morris was swimming about 6:30 p.m. with his 12-year-old son on his back, the coroner said.

The boy, who could not swim, slipped into the deep water but Morris got him into the hands of his wife and some bystanders before they heard the man scream for help, Bebich said.

The river’s swift current kept anyone from saving Morris, who later was found and taken to the hospital, where he died.