A Wenatchee Valley man in his 40s was rushed to the hospital on Monday evening following a rafting incident.
The rafter was thrown into the Wenatchee River after hitting Granny's rapid west of the Aplets Bridge, said Sergeant Adam Musgrove from the Chelan County Sheriff's Office. Witnesses within the same group saw him floating face down in the water and immediately called 911 around 7:40 p.m. They pulled him to shore and performed CPR until ambulances arrived.
The rafter, an experienced guide, was stabilized at Riverside Park and transported to Central Washington Hospital around 8:20 p.m. His condition remains unknown. Musgrove reminded the public to respect the river, which is flowing twice as fast as usual for mid-May. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a flow of 15,600 cubic feet per second on Monday, compared to the average of 7,150 cubic feet per second.
This is the second serious rafting accident this month, following the tragic death of a river guide on May 4th. Authorities urge caution and emphasize the deceptive power of the river's currents.
