Corvallis, OR. — Crews from the Corvallis Fire Department and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office conducted a successful water rescue Friday morning after a kayaker became stranded on the Willamette River near the Booneville Channel and Kiger Island Drive.
At approximately 7:30 a.m., a single adult male kayaker overturned in a slough east of the Booneville Channel and became separated from his kayak. While attempting to reach shore, he was unable to exit the river due to elevated water levels from recent rainfall. The kayaker took refuge by clinging to a tree and was able to call 911 for assistance.
The Corvallis Fire Department responded with a Battalion Chief, a medic unit, and its Special Rescue Team, deploying both a jet boat and an inflatable rescue craft. Upon arrival, responders established unified command with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, which launched a drone and a jet boat to assist with locating the kayaker.
The kayaker was located through coordinated efforts between the sheriff’s office drone team and a Corvallis Fire Special Rescue Team swimmer conducting a shoreline search. Rescuers launched the inflatable rescue craft near the Kiger Island Bridge and navigated upriver toward the victim.
Due to limited access and swift river conditions, crews positioned the inflatable as close as possible before swimming and wading the final distance to reach the kayaker. He was safely transferred to a sheriff’s office boat and transported to shore, where a Corvallis Fire medic unit evaluated him.
The kayaker was uninjured but cold and was actively warmed at the scene. He did not require hospital transport.
Fire officials thanked the Benton County Sheriff’s Office for its teamwork and emphasized the continued dangers of high, fast-moving water. Authorities urge the public to wear appropriate safety equipment and carefully monitor river conditions. For emergencies on the water, call 911 immediately.
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