No word yet on near-drowning victim in Stillaguamish River

Published 2:12 pm Thursday, July 30, 2015

ARLINGTON — Firefighters on Thursday were awaiting word on a near-drowning victim who was pulled from the Stillaguamish River the day before.

The incident happened shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday at Blue Stilly Park, also sometimes called Big Rock Park, west of Arlington. A man who appeared to be in his 50s had been swimming with a friend, Silvana Fire Chief Keith Strotz said.

The two were trying to climb the big rock at the park when the victim went missing.

His friend found him facedown in the water and pulled him out, Strotz said. Bystanders started CPR immediately.

“When we arrived, CPR was ongoing,” Strotz said.

The man had a pulse when he was put into a helicopter and taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

No update was available Thursday on the man’s condition. At least five people have drowned in rivers in the county since May 1.