One man was located in the water and helped to shore

One man was rescued and another is still missing after the boat they were in capsized on the North Fork of the Lewis River Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday (Jan. 29) at about 12:34 p.m., personnel from Clark-Cowlitz Fire and Rescue and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) were dispatched to a water incident near river mile 13 of the North Fork of the Lewis River.  

An uninvolved boater called 9-1-1 and reported he had found a small boat capsized on the river.  The caller reported they had found one male in the water and helped him to shore. The rescued boater reported that his friend, a 65-year-old male, was also in the capsized boat and still missing. Neither of the two occupants had been wearing a life jacket.

Boats from Clark-Cowlitz Fire and Rescue and CCSO’s Marine Unit responded to the search. The river was searched by boat for several hours.  CCSO deputies utilized an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to assist with the search from the air. Both banks of the river were searched from shore by fire and law enforcement personnel. The missing boater was not found. At 4 p.m., the search was suspended. 

Names of the involved will not be released pending confirmation of notifications to the family.

The CCSO Marine Unit will attempt additional search efforts again Monday. 

Clark County Sheriff’s Office officials would like to urge all boaters to wear a Personal Floatation Device approved by the United States Coast Guard.

Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.