VANCOUVER – A Vancouver fisherman drowned Wednesday after falling out of the boat he was in on the Lewis River.
Skamania County deputies said the boat made a sharp turn and ejected 49-year-old Grant Kelly and his brother at Swift Reservoir.
CPR was attempted on Kelly once he was brought to a dock, but he was pronounced dead. Rescuers said life preservers were not being used at the time, although they were on board the 14-foot vessel.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of wearing a personal flotation device while recreating on our waterways” Sergeant Jay Johnston said.
“Water temperatures, especially at the higher elevations, are still low enough that the onset of hypothermia can be as little as 10 minutes. Without a personal flotation device being utilized, the chance of survival drops dramatically.”
