VIDEO: Salem Water Rescue Leads to Safe Recovery

The spot was about 80 yards from the Willamette River.

Photo and video by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem Fire crews were involved in the dramatic rescue of a woman today who was toppled from her kayak in debris on Salem's Mill Creek.

The woman was accompanied by three other kayakers when her problems began shortly after 1:00 p.m. The kayak overturned by the bridge abutments near the park, at the foot of Salem's civic center. The woman reportedly became dangerously entangled in debris but ultimately was able to find a place where she could hold on near the bridge's pylons.

The boaters aboard the three accompanying kayaks surrounded the woman until Salem Fire water rescue crews arrived.

The spot was about 80 yards from the Willamette River.

The first-responders were able to toss a rope out, and a rescue swimmer swam out to the woman. After reaching her, the swimmer put a rescue strap on the victim, laid her on his chest, kicked off from the debris and then workers on shore pulled the rescuer and rescue victim in to safety.

Once Salem Fire water rescue crews had the woman ashore, she was loaded into an ambulance and transported to the hospital. She did not appear to have any visible injuries.

When the rescue was complete and the other kayakers concluded that their friend was out of harm's way, they continued on their water journey.

Traffic was impacted around city hall during the rescue operation.