Family rescued from Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — An 8-year-old boy was transported to Samaritan Hospital as a precaution after the kayak he was paddling capsized during a family outing on Moses Lake. The incident was reported at about 1 p.m. Thursday at Connelly Park. The boy and his parents were using kayaks that were unfamiliar to them, said Brent Haley, a captain with Grant County Fire District No. 5. The boy’s mother fell out of her kayak, Haley said; “it’s a new kayak to her,” and she had trouble getting back in. Seeing his mom in the water caused the boy to panic, and he fell in the lake. The boy’s father paddled over to help, got out of his kayak and had trouble getting back in. All three were wearing life jackets. A “good Samaritan on a jet ski” arrived on scene and helped the man get back in his kayak, and transported the boy to shore. The mom’s kayak began to take on water, and the jet ski rider returned to help the woman. The jet ski rider flagged down a passing boat, who transported the woman back to shore, along with the two kayaks. A Fire District No. 5 unit was en route to another incident, but was diverted to the park, Haley said. AMR ambulance personnel also responded to the scene, and transported the boy to the hospital.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.