Man capsizes boat near Beverly

BEVERLY - A Fall City man capsized his boat in the Columbia River Wednesday morning after he became distracted while trying to recover a duck decoy.

The incident occurred near Beverly, south of Wanapum Dam, according to Kittitas County Sheriff Gene Dana.

A Grant County Sheriff's Office deputy was dispatched to assist with the rescue.

Barry L. Martin, 68, of Fall City, was in a nine-foot boat surrounded by other duck hunters in their own boat when he was reaching in to grab a duck decoy. He reportedly became distracted and fell into the river, according to Dana.

Dana said Martin swam about 50 feet before he was picked by other hunters in a larger boat before rescue teams arrived.

"If he was there by himself, it could have been a tragic ending," Dana said.

The man was able to get into a second set of dry clothes before deputies found him.

Other hunters helped turn the boat upright, he said.

Martin was not hurt in the incident.

With the duck hunting season in full swing, Dana suggests people wear life jackets when they are on the river.