Man, three kids rescued from area river

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. -- A man and three children were rescued from near disaster on Tuesday, after the inner tubes they were floating on overturned.

At about 5:00 p.m., the 911 center got a call about a male adult and three kids who were dumped off their inner tubes while floating the river near Swiftwater Park.

Officials say Derek Dring, 31, of Roseburg, was floating the river above Whistlers Park with three children.

The Sheriff's office says Dring had the children’s inner tubes tied to his, and the tubes overturned, throwing the kids into the swift water.

One 4-year-old was stranded on a rock near the incident, while the other two children, ages 7 and 9, floated down river.

Dring swam down river after the children and was able to get them to rocks in the middle of the river.

Officials say Brad Eaton, 19, of Winston, saw it happen, and swam out to the rock to stay with the 4-year-old.

Douglas County Fire District #2 Swift Water Rescue Team was able to reach everyone who was stranded and get them to shore safely with the use of a raft.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office indicated that all the children were wearing life jackets.

No injuries were reported.

Glide Fire, Douglas County Fire District #2, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and BLM responded to the incident.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to check their life jacket for proper fit:

Adults - “The Touchdown Test”

• With the jacket on, raise your arms as though signaling a touchdown.

• Look to the left and then to the right, making sure the jacket doesn’t hit the chin.

Children - The 3 Inch Rule

• With the child standing normally, arms at sides, grab the shoulders of the life jacket and lift up.

• If you can move the life jacket more than three inches up (or above the ears), it doesn’t fit properly. How high the jacket rides is how it will fit them in the water.

• Straps should be snug.

Remember, wear and fit are key.