http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/sto...qclgoEoyjw.cspxSearch suspended until Tuesday for teen who fell in Sandy River
SANDY RIVER, Ore. -- Emergency personnel responded to a water rescue call in Clackamas County Monday morning.
According to initial information, a teen fisherman fell into the Sandy River near "the old Marmot Dam" -- about 6 miles east of Sandy, Ore.
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer tells KOIN that sheriff's crews received the call at 10:04 a.m. Monday. He says the male was fishing with a friend and attempted to cross the river.
That missing teen has now been identified as 18-year-old Joseph Arnold Deseranno from Milwaukie.
"Deseranno and a friend had driven to the location earlier this morning to fish for Steelhead," the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office reports. "Mr. Deseranno attempted to wade across the Sandy River when he slipped and fell into the water. He was wearing hip-waders and a camouflage coat. Mr. Deseranno was not wearing a Personal Flotation Device..."
His friend called 9-1-1 when he could not find Deseranno in the river, the sheriff's office spokesperson said.
Roads in the area were icy Monday as a result of a region-wide cold snap. Icy roads initially made it difficult for rescue crews to get to the spot where the teen was reported to have fallen.
As of noon conditions were still too hazardous to put in kayaks and cloud cover and falling snow prevented air support. However, swimmers, rope teams, rescue teams and rafts were used.
About 20 searchers from the Clackamas County Water Rescue Consortium spent four and a half hours combing the river and its banks, searching at least a mile downstream from where the teen fell. They reported that the Sandy River was clear but "very fast" through this section. Searchers say the water temperature was about 35 degrees Fahrenheit, air temperature was 27 degrees, and river banks were covered in ice.
Monday's search was suspended Monday afternoon "due to safety concerns for the rescue personnel."
The search is expected to resume Tuesday.
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Anyone reading this who still wears hip boots and gets into moving water should go out and get some real waders before heading to the river again.
What a tragic story this is.
Fish on...
Todd