Dive team rescues man stranded by flood near Snoqualmie Mill Pond

Published 4:14 pm Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Rescuers waded through waist-deep water early Wednesday morning to rescue a 40-year-old-man from the rising Snoqualmie River. The man was standing on a floating log, hanging onto a tree in the area of Mill Pond Road, between the river and the circular lake known as Lake Borst.

According to the King County Sheriff’s Office, which sent a marine rescue and dive team to assist in the rescue, the man used a cell phone to call 9-1-1 for help.

“He apparently was sleeping, and he woke up and realized he was wet,” said Sgt. Cindi West, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. She added that “There was no flowing water at his location,” so he was simply stranded, not in danger from the current.

Rescuers had to make their way through thick brush and downed trees to reach the man. They then helped him walk back across the rising water, to a waiting ambulance. He was transported to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital to be evaluated.

Rescuers from Eastside Fire & Rescue also took part in the rescue.

No further information on the victim was available, but authorities suspect he could be a transient.