Crime & Safety

Firefighters Rescue Woman Who Chased Dog Into Nisqually River

The woman had to be rescued after she chased her dog into the Nisqually River near Eatonville, according to firefighters.

EATONVILLE, WA - Pierce County firefighters had to rescue a woman from the Nisqually River after she jumped in to try and rescue her dog. The incident happened on Saturday around 4:15 p.m. along the 45000 block of Mashel Prairie Road, which is southwest of Eatonville.

A technical rescue team was able to gain access to the woman and rescue her; they also retrieved the dog.

The water rescue comes as temperatures across the region approach the 80-degree mark. Local health officials are warning local residents that water temperatures are still extremely cold - between 30 and 50 degrees - and can be hazardous.

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"Warm weather and cold water can be a deadly combination, and I urge everyone to wear a life jacket and avoid alcohol while on the water," King County Sheriff John Urquhart said in a press release warning about cold water temperatures.

Twenty-two people died in "preventable" drownings in 2016, according to King County, a big jump from 17 in 2015.

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Image via Pierce County Firefighters

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