Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MURRAY — A 14-year-old Boy Scout was rescued from the Jordan River Wednesday night after his canoe tipped.
The Adventure Scout, his 17-year-old brother and an adult leader were about to exit the river near 4600 South and 500 West when a branch they were clinging to broke. They were swept over a small waterfall, and their canoe flipped, said Murray Fire Marshal Russ Groves.
The boy's brother and the adult leader swam to shore while the boy clung to a branch of a tree growing in the river.
"Our victim actually began getting recirculated in the current. It's a recirculating current, it's like a washing machine," said Murray Fire Capt. Joseph Treadwell.
The boy was in the water for about 30 minutes before members of a swift water rescue team pulled him from the river. He was cold but appeared to be OK, Groves said.
The boy was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray but was released shortly after being checked out by doctors.
"It could have been real tragic," Groves said. "It's really not a good time to hang around the rivers and creeks. The water is way too high and way too fast."
There were five other canoes in the group, with 10 Scouts and five leaders, who successfully exited the river before the waterfall, Groves said.
-----
Story written by Spencer Garn with contributions from Sandra Yi.
