OTIS ORCHARDS, Wash. – A 3-year-old boy was pulled from the Spokane River today and taken to the hospital in critical condition.
According to the Spokane Valley Fire Department, firefighters responded to East Buckeye Avenue near Barker Road at 6:38 p.m. for a reported drowning. Six minutes after receiving the call, they arrived.
The child was retrieved from the river, and bystanders performed CPR until first responders arrived. Firefighters suspect the child had been in the water for under five minutes.
An air ambulance was initially called but was canceled as firefighters determined an ambulance would transport the child to the hospital more quickly.
The child was driven to Sacred Heart Hospital, escorted by first responders, and was last reported to be in critical condition.
Firefighters noted that the child was not wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device during the incident. Spokane Valley emphasizes the importance of safety precautions, reminding people that tragedy can occur unexpectedly, and urges wearing a life jacket or flotation device while in the river.
This is a developing story and more details will be revealed at a later time.
