Tugboat blocks 4-foot waves as man and dog stuck in boat are rescued in Oregon

A man was boating on an Oregon river with his dog when he struck a wing dam and started taking on large waves, deputies said.

The 54-year-old was getting struck by 4-foot waves over the side of his boat Thursday, Jan. 27, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said. There were high winds on the Columbia River, and the water was rough near Chinook Landing.

“Deputies had to be extremely careful, as conditions on the water were severe,” the sheriff’s office said on Twitter. “Deputies called the man by phone and provided him instruction as they attempted to pull alongside his disabled vessel.”

Deputies couldn’t reach the man and his dog during the first few attempts. However, a tugboat stepped in to help.

The tugboat helped block the waves so deputies could have a safe place to stage the rescue. After that, deputies pulled the man and dog to safety.

“The man and dog were not hurt, a testament to the careful, courageous work by the marine deputies,” officials said.

Chinook Landing Marine Park is about 16 miles east of Portland.

This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 8:26 AM with the headline "Tugboat blocks 4-foot waves as man and dog stuck in boat are rescued in Oregon."