Site Logo

Man rescued on Green River in Auburn after two-hour search

Published 1:08 pm Thursday, August 6, 2026

By Ray Miller-Still

The Mountain View Fire and Rescue (MVFR) Technical Rescue Team was only one of several emergency response teams that rescued a man Aug. 5 on the Green River in Auburn. The tech rescue team is also called out on rope rescues, vehicle extractions, structural collapse rescues, and large animal rescues. File Photo courtesy MVFR

The Mountain View Fire and Rescue (MVFR) Technical Rescue Team was only one of several emergency response teams that rescued a man Aug. 5 on the Green River in Auburn. The tech rescue team is also called out on rope rescues, vehicle extractions, structural collapse rescues, and large animal rescues. File Photo courtesy MVFR

A man was rescued from the Green River Wednesday night, Aug. 5 in Auburn by multiple emergency response agencies.

According to Mountain View Fire and Rescue, dispatch received a call around 10:47 p.m. about a person having been separated from a group tubing down the river near the Whitney Bridge area (east of Flaming Geyser Park, on 212th Way SE near SE Green Valley Road, in unincorporated King County).

Cellphone data was used to narrow the search area, which was in complete darkness.

Rescue kayaks were launched up and downstream from the man’s last known location, and the King County Sheriff’s Office deployed a drone with infrared capabilities.

Rescue crews discovered the man around 1:20 a.m. stranded on a rock.

He was safely rescued, brought to the Whitney Bridge boat launch, and medically evaluated.

Agencies assisting with the response included Mountain View Fire & Rescue, King County Sheriff’s Office, King County Medic One, Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, South King Fire, Valley Regional Fire Authority, Renton Regional Fire Authority, Enumclaw Fire Department and Skyway Fire.

“This incident highlights the value of regional cooperation during complex emergencies,” Mountain View Fire and Rescue Chief Jawn Judkins said in a Aug. 6 press release. “No single agency maintains all of the specialized resources needed for every incident, but by working together, neighboring departments can quickly assemble personnel, equipment, and expertise to safely resolve challenging situations such as a nighttime water rescue.”

Emergency responders recommend always wearing a properly-fitted life jacket while on the water, and if you become separated from your group, or find yourself stranded, remain where you are if it is safe to do so.

“Staying in one location significantly improves rescuers’ ability to locate you quickly and safely,” Judkins said.

Mountain View Fire & Rescue serves unincorporated King County (outside the cities of Auburn, Kent, Enumclaw), city of Black Diamond and Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

You Might Like