Thursday, October 13, 2011
STEVENSON, Wash. - Rescuers used ropes to bring a 19-year-old kayaker to safety after he plunged over a 55-foot southwest Washington waterfall and suffered a possible back injury.
Skamania County sheriff's spokeswoman Jacqueline Garrity says Joseph Grudger of Ellijay, Ga., was injured Wednesday when he went over Lower Falls on the East Fork of the Lewis River in the Gifford Pinchot (PIN-cho) National Forest.
The Columbian reports he was listed in satisfactory condition later Wednesday at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver.
The spokeswoman says one companion drove about a half hour from the remote area to get cell phone service so she could call 911 while another companion stayed with Grudger.