MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Two 13-year-old boys rescued from ‘extremely dangerous’ river in Sultan

May 7, 2026, 6:05 PM

Sultan river rescue dangerous...

A photo of the river rescue in Sultan. (Photo courtesy of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office)

(Photo courtesy of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office)

Two 13-year-old boys were rescued from a river near Sportsman’s Park in Sultan on Monday.

East County deputies responded to the park around 4 p.m. after reports of a child drowning, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) announced Thursday.

After deputies arrived at the scene, the two boys were successfully pulled out of the river.

2 boys rescued from ‘dangerous’ river; officials warn of ‘overwhelming’ currents

The sheriff’s office noted the exact location where the two boys were was “extremely dangerous” because it was where two rivers intersected.

“Strong, unpredictable currents and sudden drop-offs can quickly overwhelm even the most experienced swimmers,” SCSO stated.

The sheriff’s office continued to highlight the dangers of swimming in a river or a lake as the summer weather heats up, noting “warm weather does not mean warm water.”

“Rivers, lakes, and the ocean can remain dangerously cold,” SCSO stated. “Cold water can trigger shock, causing gasping, panic, and rapid exhaustion, even for strong swimmers.”

SCSO provided a few tips for remaining safe while swimming in rivers or lakes, including:

  • Watch children closely at all times.
  • Wear a properly fitted life jacket.
  • Know the water conditions before you go.
  • Call 911 immediately in an emergency.

The full video of the two boys being rescued is available here.

Follow Jason Sutich on X. Send news tips here.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

MyNorthwest News

Central Pierce Fire & Rescue crews patrolling the Little Giant Fire at night, looking for hot spots...

Tom Brock

From the front lines to home: Pierce County firefighters wrap up two-week battle

Local firefighters battling what may be the largest wildfire in Chelan County history have now returned to the Puget Sound region.

17 hours ago

traffic weekend closure...

Paola Tristan Arruda, KIRO 7 News

Weekend traffic headaches ahead: Major closures planned on I-405, SR 520/Montlake, and SR 99

Drivers traveling around the Puget Sound region this weekend should prepare for yet another weekend of delays as several major road projects overlap across King County.

22 hours ago

Seattle Spokane startup HQ...

MyNorthwest Staff

Spokane startup auctioning returned retail goods moves HQ to Seattle area

A Spokane startup, BuyWander, is moving its headquarters to the Seattle area while the company is expanding its warehouse network across the country.

23 hours ago

graham girl...

Katy Wade, KIRO 7 News

Family shares fundraiser for 5-year-old girl killed in Graham

A fundraiser has been started to support the family of a 5-year-old girl who was found dead in a Graham yard last week.

1 day ago

executive order safter streets katie wilson...

James Lynch

Mayor Wilson signs executive order to accelerate street safety projects as Seattle falls short on Vision Zero

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a new executive order Friday aimed at making Seattle’s streets safer for everyone.

1 day ago

sea airport pipeline...

MyNorthwest Staff

Alaska Airlines flight attendants file grievance over staffing on long-haul international flights

Alaska Airlines flight attendants filed a grievance last week, stating the airline has been understaffing its newest long-haul routes from Seattle.

1 day ago

Two 13-year-old boys rescued from ‘extremely dangerous’ river in Sultan