18-Year Old Male Pulled from the Molalla River and Airlifted to OHSU

The victim was airlifted by Lifeflight to OHSU. He was listed as serious but stable by Paramedics.

File photo

(CANBY, Ore.) - Canby Fire was dispatched to an unknown medical incident on S. Railroad, in the City of Barlow, today at approximately 3:39 p.m.

Information given to rescuers enroute advised that an 18-year old male had been pulled from the Molalla River, and was being transported via ATV to the listed address, which was approximately 1/4 mile from where the situation occurred, according to Canby Fire Spokesman Troy Buzalski.

"When firefighters arrived they assessed the patient's conditions and tried to grasp what had actually transpired."

He says that while interviewing witnesses, they were told 18-year old Roseburg man was riding as a passenger on an ATV next to the Molalla River, near the railroad bridge, just North of Highway 99E.

"The man apparently fell from the ATV and landed face first in the Molalla River and then began to have what was described as convulsions or a seizure."

Buzalski says the driver of the ATV pull over and lifted the man's face out of the water, and summoned friends for help. The group of citizen rescuers then placed the man on the ATV, and transported him to a residence.

"Firefighter/Paramedics where challenged, as it is uncertain whether this incident was a medical condition and/or traumatic injury, plus they had to consider aspiration of water (near drowning), because of the uncertainty to how long the man's was face first in the water."

The victim was airlifted by Lifeflight to OHSU. He was listed as serious but stable by Paramedics.

Buzalski says this is the second unusual water related incident in Canby in two days, and further affirms just how fast situations can happen when in or around water.