On a treacherous stretch of the Sandy River last Friday night, a family's outing took a worrying turn when they found themselves stranded without essentials. In response, a coordinated rescue operation began as the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office received a distress call around 10:15 p.m. from concerned family members who were ill-prepared for an unforeseen prolonged stay in the wild. The three adults and two children involved in the incident were lacking basic supplies like water and warm clothing, with one child in urgent need of critical medication.
As the night progressed, fears for the family's well-being grew. The Clackamas County Water Rescue Team swiftly launched a search, and with the assistance of a Corbett Fire drone, the family was spotted near Camp Namanu not long after the initial call, as reported by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. Search and Rescue coordinators were promptly activated to take action amid the dark and chilly conditions. An air unit from the Portland Police Bureau played a pivotal role, spotting the group's small warming fire before midnight, which provided rescuers with critical information on the family's whereabouts.
After a series of strenuous maneuvers by various rescue teams, the volunteers alongside a boat crew from Clackamas Fire managed to access the family in the remote spot. This operation concluded just before the dawn of a new day. The rescuers helped extinguish the fire and escorted the family across the river so they could commence the trek out of the woods. By the early hours of 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, each family member had returned to safe ground and to the comfort of their home.
The success of the rescue not only highlights the perils that can accompany recreational activities in untamed environments, but also the community strength and collaboration in times of crisis. A statement from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office extended a heartfelt thanks to the selfless volunteers from Clackamas County Search and Rescue (CSAR) and commended the support of their partner agencies, including the Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Clackamas Fire, Corbett Fire, and American Medical Response (AMR).
