Published October 20, 2026 03:32PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A woman and her small dog, Gizmo, were kayaking along Oregon\u2019s Clackamas River, roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland, when their boat flipped on October 16. With water temperatures in the low 50s and a current that threatened to sweep them downstream, the pair were left stranded in the river.<\/p>\n
Of the two, only Gizmo was wearing a life jacket.<\/p>\n
Authorities have not released the woman\u2019s name or age, but both she and Gizmo escaped without injury. Matt Aalto, a division chief with the Estacada Fire District (EFD) who oversaw the rescue, told Outside<\/i> that the incident reminds paddlers\u2014and their pets\u2014to always wear life jackets, regardless of how comfortable they feel on the water.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s almost not negotiable,\u201d Aalto said. \u201cEspecially in the Clackamas River, which can catch paddlers off guard, particularly during stretches of warm fall weather.\u201d<\/p>\n
EFD described the incident in a statement shared to Facebook<\/a>. Authorities wrote that the woman launched near Milo McIver State Park, a popular recreation area with trails, campgrounds, and river access. According to Aalto, the woman struggled to control the kayak shortly after entering the water.<\/p>\n The kayak flipped while she was still within sight of the boat ramp, Aalto said, leaving her standing in the river with Gizmo and a boat full of water.<\/p>\n Aalto said the woman couldn\u2019t self-rescue, but she was able to call her mother, who then alerted emergency responders. When firefighters arrived, the woman\u2019s father met them at the scene and pointed out a trail that led directly to her location.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trail did open right up to where she was at,\u201d Aalto told Outside<\/em>. \u201cThat\u2019s pretty fortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n Crews positioned rescuers downstream with safety ropes in case the current swept her away, according to Aalto. Firefighters then waded into waist-deep water and first retrieved Gizmo, then his owner and the flooded kayak. The entire rescue took about ten minutes.<\/p>\n Gizmo was wearing a properly fitted life jacket with a handle, which Aalto said may have saved the small, scruffy dog\u2019s\u00a0life.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout a life jacket, Gizmo probably wouldn\u2019t be with us today,\u201d Aalto told Outside<\/em>. \u201cHe may have stayed afloat, but he would have definitely, most definitely gone downstream. And whether or not he would have been found is a whole other thing.\u201d<\/p>\n By the time Gizmo reached shore, he was OK, albeit a little cold.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was wide awake, staring at me, and shaking, but was still very sweet,\u201d Aalto said. \u201cSo, I put my hand out to see if he would be interested in sniffing, and he just kind of let me pet him. But you could tell that he was a chilly little dog.\u201d<\/p>\n Firefighters helped his owner safely to shore, and she did not require medical treatment.<\/p>\n Fed by rain and snowmelt from the Cascade Mountains, the Clackamas can remain cold even when the air feels mild, and strong currents can overwhelm swimmers of all abilities.<\/p>\n On October 16, air temperatures in nearby Portland reached 78 degrees Fahrenheit, while a U.S. Geological Survey monitoring station<\/a> recorded the river at 53.6 degrees that morning.<\/p>\n Some paddlers follow the Rule of 120, a guideline that uses the combined air and water temperatures to assess the need for cold-water protection. The day\u2019s readings totaled roughly 132 degrees, above the rule\u2019s 120-degree threshold, though the river was still cold enough to pose a risk of cold-water shock.<\/p>\n Sudden immersion in cold water can trigger an involuntary gasp and rapid breathing,<\/em> according to the National Weather Service<\/a>. If someone\u2019s head is underwater during that initial shock, they risk inhaling water and drowning.\u00a0<\/strong>As exposure continues, the cold can impair muscle control in the hands, arms, and legs, making it increasingly difficult to grip an overturned kayak or swim to shore. These effects can develop within minutes, well before hypothermia sets in.<\/p>\n Oregon law<\/a> requires adult kayakers to carry a properly fitting, readily accessible Coast Guard-approved life jacket, though wearing one is legally required only in rougher water with moderate to difficult rapids (Class III and above). The Oregon State Marine Board recommends wearing one regardless of the conditions.<\/p>\n The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends<\/a> on its website that dogs wear life jackets on the water, even if they are strong swimmers. A dog thrown into moving water can become exhausted or disoriented, and a properly fitted flotation device can help keep it afloat.<\/p>\nInside the Rescue<\/b><\/h2>\n
Why Cold Water Can Be Dangerous Within Minutes<\/h2>\n
What Kayakers Should Know About Keeping Dogs Safe<\/h2>\n