OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers Rescue Three People After Capsizing

Timing is everything, and these troopers could not have been in a better place at a better time to rescue the victims in fast moving, 41 degree water.

Canoe after recovery Photo Courtesy: Oregon State Police

(INDEPENDENCE) - Three people narrowly escaped tragedy Sunday, when state fish and wildlife troopers happened upon an overturned canoe with three adults hanging onto the side a few miles downstream from Independence. All three were wearing lifejackets, which the troopers believed help them survive.

Sunday at approximately 12:30 PM, OSP Trooper Adam Turnbo and Trooper Andrew Goffrier were on boat patrol along the Willamette River when they spotted the three on the Willamette River with their canoe overturned.

As the troopers approached the overturned canoe in fast water about mid-stream, they believed all three were hypothermic and appeared tired. Before getting to them, 68-year Mitzi Bauer of Woodburn was exhausted and lost her grip, causing the troopers to believe she was struggling to stay afloat.

The troopers were able to get to the woman and the two adult males, 42-year old Michael Nearman and 68-year old Gilford Lewis, both of Salem, and pull them into the OSP boat.

The troopers were told that the canoe overturned about ten minutes earlier as it entered a choppy section of the river. The fast current and cold temperature, approximately 41 degrees, kept the three from getting to shore.

This section of the river is about 20 yards wide and estimated to be 18 feet deep.

Troopers Turnbo and Goffrier notified OSP Northern Communications Center dispatch and took the three cold and wet individuals to the Independence boat ramp where Polk County Fire & Rescue responded and met them. After they were warmed up and evaluated by medical personnel, they declined transport to a hospital.

Information indicates the two men are from Salem and the woman is from Woodburn.