TWO PULLED ALIVE FROM COLUMBIA RIVER AFTER CANOE CAPSIZES

A Columbia County Sheriff's deputy--with the help of a Rainier Police officer--rescued two adult males from the Columbia River late Tuesday night after the men's canoe capsized near Prescott Beach.

Columbia 911 Dispatch received a call from residents in Prescott who said they heard screams for help coming from the river. There were no deputies on duty at the time of the call, but a marine patrol deputy was called in to attempt the rescue. The deputy obtained the help of a Rainier Police Officer and the two launched a sheriff's boat from Rainier. Less than half an hour after receiving the call, the deputy and police officer hauled two men from the river in a semi-conscious state.

Both men were suffering from hyporthermia and were nearly unconscious. Paramedics at the scene estimated that only a few minutes more in the cold water and the two would have lost consciousness completely.

"This is a case of quick action by our deputy who was off-duty when he got the call and a team effort with our dispatch center, the Rainier Police Department and Columbia River Fire and Rescue," said Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson. "Thanks to an agreement with Columbia River Fire, we have a boat stored in the Rainier area that allowed us to get on the water quickly. It was the difference between life and death tonight," the sheriff said.

Both men entered the canoe from their camping spot at Prescott Beach--not wearing lifejackets. At some point the canoe capsized and sent them floating downstream, clinging to the overturned canoe. They were in the water close to an hour and drifted downstream in the cold water for over a mile.

"You saved us," one of the men said to the deputy and Rainier officer as they pulled them out of the water.

The two men were transported by Columbia River Fire and Rescue to Saint John Hospital in Longview and treated for exposure. They were later identified as Justin Wood, 22, and Ronald Bedio, 22, both of Rainier. Bendio was also later determined to have a warrant for his arrest in Columbia County, and authorities in Longview were alerted to his status.