On October 24, 2021, at around 1237 hours, Klickitat County 911 Operators received a call reporting a 58-year-old male with heart issues, who was on the Klickitat River, south of the Fisher Hill Bridge. The Dallesport Medic, as well as volunteers with the Lyle Fire Department responded to the call.
At around 1255 hours, the Dallesport Medic arrived and shortly after arriving, requested the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue respond with a rope rescue team to assist in accessing the patient. Reserve Deputy Tim Harden and Deputy Erik Beasley responded to assist with the call.
Reserve Deputy Harden and Deputy Beasley grabbed a transport litter and began working their way down to the patient. Several members of Lyle Fire Department and the Dallesport Medics were able to get to the patient and called for a helicopter to assist in lifting the patient out of the canyon. Due to the weather conditions in the canyon the Washington State Emergency Operations Center advised it was unknown if a helicopter would be able to be deployed. A helicopter was not deployed to the call.
Sheriff’s Posse Volunteer Matt Marx responded to the scene with a boat capable of navigating the Klickitat River. The patient was loaded into Posse Volunteer Marx’s boat and the patient was transported to the boat ramp at the Lyle Point. Once at the boat ramp, the patient was turned over to the Dallesport Medics and transported to the hospital for medical care.
Sheriff Songer would like to thank all of the volunteers and first responders for their assistance on this call. This is a great example of the partnership the Sheriff’s Office has with its volunteers and first responders, including the fire departments and ambulance services, working together to respond to emergencies within Klickitat County. Sheriff Songer would like to personally recognize the 911 Operators and Sheriff’s Posse Volunteer Matt Marx for their incredible coordinating and heroism in handling this case. Great job everyone.