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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
Victor Reppeto and his son Gabriel, 12, were airlifted from the North Santiam River by a National Guard helicopter after their folding boat capsized near Idanha.
June 20, 2012
IDANHA -- An Oregon Army National Guard helicopter crew rescued two Dallas residents who fell into the North Santiam River during a kayaking trip on Saturday, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said.
Victor and Elizabeth Reppeto and their sons Gabriel, 12, and Mason, 11, had put into the river in kayaks and a folding boat. Victor lost an oar and and Gabriel was unable to handle the swift current.
When Gabriel was moved to the folding boat, it took on water and all of the family ended up in the water, deputies said.
Elizabeth and Mason made it to shore, but Victor and Gabriel were swept downstream. They climbed onto rocks in the middle of the river, but the current prevented rescuers from reaching them, deputies said.
Elizabeth called 9-1-1 and the sheriff's office responded at about 2:45 p.m. Deputies then contacted the National Guard to extricate the pair by airlift. An HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter based in Salem arrived at the scene at about 7:15 p.m. and whisked the father and son to safety.
All of the Reppetos were wearing lifejackets. Neither Victor nor Gabriel required medical assistance, deputies said.
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