Man dies after falling off log in Index

Published 11:40 pm Sunday, October 4, 2009

INDEX — One man died early Sunday morning after falling off a log while crossing a creek.

The man, who is middle-aged, was crossing Silver Creek north of Index-Galena Road on a log when he fell. He was declared dead at the scene, Snohomish County sheriff’s Lt. Rob Palmer said. The group the man was with hiked out of the area to summon help.

It was not known if the man died as a result of his injuries or if he suffered a medical emergency, he said. The Snohomish County medical examiner was expected to determine the cause of death.

The man was likely prospecting in the remote, wooded area, Palmer said.

Snohomish County Search and Rescue volunteers set out to the site of the incident around 2 a.m. They recovered the man’s body with the help of a helicopter, Palmer said.