Helicopter rescues kayakers from Oregon river
IDANHA, Ore. -- A family kayaking trip put four family members in the North Santiam River near Idahna Saturday afternoon. While the mother and one son made it ashore, the father and other son had to be evacuated by helicopter, police said.
Victor and Elizabeth Reppeto took their two sons 12-year-old Gabriel and 11-year-old Mason on a kayaking trip in the North Santiam, which runs parallel to Highway 22. The family set out in three kayaks and a fold-a-boat early Saturday afternoon.
Shortly after their departure Victor lost an oar and Gabriel lost control of his kayak in the swift current. The parents tried moving Gabriel to the fold-a-boat, which soon started taking on water. All four ended up in the water. They were all wearing live jackets.
Elizabeth and Mason made it to the shore, but Victor and Gabriel were swept downriver. The father and son were able to safely get to several large rocks in the middle of the river. During which time Elizabeth called 9-1-1.
At around 3 p.m. Marion County Deputies arrived on-scene. Deputies immediately started the water rescue effort, calling the Oregon Army National Guard. The rescue team airlifted the kayakers from the river using an HH-60 Blackhawk at around 7 p.m.
The Reppeto family walked away from the scene without needing medical assistance.
This is the second rescue in less than a week that mobilized the Oregon Army National Guard.
