Cook County received an emergency call at 6:08 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, reporting that a 16-year-old male had fallen and was stuck in one of the canyons on Kadunce River in Colvill.
Cook County Search and Rescue, Cook County Ambulance, and the Colvill and Hovland Fire Departments were paged to assist, with Search and Rescue locating the boy about a quarter mile up the trail from Highway 61. The incident commander was on scene by 6:33 p.m. and said rope extrication would be needed.
Colvill Fire Chief Tom Thompson said the concern at that point was that it was not known if the young man had suffered injuries in the fall. He was conscious and responding but was unable to make it up the steep canyon bank.
A private citizen assisted with dropping ropes to the young man and he was able to climb out with that help.
The boy and a friend were fishing in the river gorge. When they decided to leave the river, they walked along the edge of a waterfall, where the victim fell. Because of the steep banks and the water current, he was unable to get out on his own and his friend called 9-1-1.
Thompson said the young man was soaking wet and had some minor scrapes, but did not require medical attention. All responders were clear from the incident by 7:17 p.m.
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