Tubers without life jackets rescued from OR river — then saved again hours later
Two women were rescued twice from a fast-moving river in only a matter of hours, Oregon firefighters said.
The pair went tubing without life jackets Aug. 2 on the Willamette River in Albany, Albany Fire Department spokesperson Sandy Roberts told McClatchy News by email Aug. 5.
Rescuers responded to the Monteith Park area at about 1:55 p.m. and found the women “clinging to dense brush along the riverbank,” firefighters said in a news release.
Roberts said the portion of the river that runs along Monteith Park has dense 20-foot tall vegetation growing along the bank.
“Underwater trees and snags are also thick in this portion of the river,” Roberts said.
The fire department helped the women out of the river.
But it wasn’t long before firefighters got another call to help the same women a second time.
Firefighters responded to the river just before 4:30 p.m. and helped the pair out again, rescuers said.
There were no reported injuries, so the women were released, firefighters said.
It’s not known if alcohol or drugs were involved, Roberts said.
The fire department encourages anyone going in or near a river to wear life jacket and avoid getting into water where there’s a fast-moving current.
Inflatable tubes meant for pools should also not be used in rivers, rescuers said.
The fire department has a free life vest kiosk with all sizes at Bryant Park, which is just southwest of Monteith Park.
Albany is about a 25-mile drive south from Salem.
This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Tubers without life jackets rescued from OR river — then saved again hours later."
