Once the victim was pulled from the river and aboard the fire boat, he was transported to a waiting AMR ambulance and taken to the hospital for his injuries

A man who reportedly fell into the Columbia River Wednesday afternoon was rescued and transported to an area hospital.

At about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday (June 22), 9-1-1 calls began to come in to Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) about a man that had fallen from the mid span of the I-5 bridge into the Columbia River. 

One of the callers was on the shore near the former Red Lion Quay property and had eyes on the subject and was providing directions to responding units through the dispatcher. He had reported the male that had fallen from the bridge was now holding onto pilings and a log in front of the Red Lion in extremely swift water. 

Vancouver Fire Department crews arrived with three land-based units, and three members aboard the fire boat. It took the crew on the fireboat eight minutes to arrive on the scene.

The crew of Fireboat 1 Discovery spotted the male subject weak and falling off the log and made an invasive maneuver to rescue the victim in an area of extremely strong current forcefully pushing the boat from the side. This maneuver required precise operation of the 46-foot boat. 

Once the victim was pulled from the river and aboard the fire boat, he was transported to a waiting AMR ambulance and taken to the hospital for his injuries.       

Information provided by Vancouver Fire Department.