Search of Puyallup River for Buckley man called off


July 10, 2012 · 12:46 PM

The search has been called off for a 29-year-old Buckley man whose raft capsized into the Puyallup River Sunday night.

The man, who has been identified by the first name Josh, was with a group of six rafters who were rafting on the river north of Orting. Four rafters got out of the river on their one, one other was rescued and treated.

According to Pierce County Sheriff's Detective Ed Troyer, the search has been called off due to dangerous water conditions.

"At this point we believe it is a recovery (mission)," Troyer said Tuesday.

Troyer said rescuers, including Orting Fire and East Pierce Fire and Rescue have used divers, swift water search techniques, ropes and even airplanes to search the river but have found no sign of Josh.

"At this point we believe it is a recovery (mission)," Troyer said Tuesday.

Troyer said officials plan to wait for the water level to drop and will then reevaluate the situation.

Troyer said Josh was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the accident, but was on an inner tube from which he was separated.

Troyer also said friends and family of the man have stated an interest to keep searching, but he warned everyone to be careful in and around the river, which is swollen due to the melt during the recent spate of warm weather.

Troyer said the river is "moving fast and hard" and has "zero visibility" right now.

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