Four boaters rescued from Sandy River

Sat., May 15, 2004

The Spokesman-Review

Associated Press

TROUTDALE, Ore. (AP) — Four boaters were rescued from Oregon’s Sandy River on Friday after their 14-foot aluminum boat got pinned on a rock wall just above the river’s swirling rapids.

Clackamas County fire officials received the emergency call shortly after 6 a.m., after one of the boaters used a cellular phone to call 911.

The boaters had gone out on the river near Troutdale, 18 miles east of Portland, to go fishing.

But they were swept downstream by the strong current and their boat became grounded on the rocks .

Rescue workers used a raft and lines in an attempt to remove the boaters. As the last boater was lifted into the raft, the boat flooded and their belongings were swept away.

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