Rescue Team Training Saves Two Canoeists in Washington River

When the Whatcom County Water Rescue Task Force headed out for training exercises on the Nooksack River Wednesday evening, they had no idea they'd be saving lives before the night was over.

Around 8 p.m., team members spotted people on shore frantically waving for help. Two canoeists were clinging to a tree in the middle of the river, their boat pinned underwater by the current.

The stranded pair had been practicing for the annual Ski to Sea race scheduled for that weekend. Both wore life jackets, but their canoe was stuck and the river conditions were dangerous.

Because the rescue team was already on the water with their boats and gear, they reached the canoeists quickly. The two were pulled to safety and taken back to the Lynden Boat Launch, about a mile from where they'd gotten stuck near Bylsma Road. Neither person was injured.

"Honestly, the task force was in the right place at the right time," said Officer Cody Barry with the Everson Police Department. "Given the river conditions and the location of the individuals in the water, the outcome could have been much different had rescuers not already been in the immediate area."

The Bright Side

The rescue team had been preparing for this exact weekend. The Ski to Sea race draws hundreds of participants to the area's waterways each year, and the task force trains specifically to keep everyone safe during the event.

This training session proved its worth before the race even started. The team's readiness meant two athletes made it home safely that night instead of becoming a tragedy.

The Whatcom County Water Rescue Task Force combines personnel and boats from five agencies: Everson Police Department, Sumas Police Department, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, and Whatcom County Search and Rescue.

Their collaboration shows how preparation and teamwork create safety nets for entire communities.