A King County Sheriff’s deputy rescued a Maple Valley man who was found unconscious after floating down the Green River July 3.

Around 8:30 p.m. a 32 year old Maple Valley man was rafting on the river with his girlfriend, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart. The man set out around 3:30 p.m. from Flaming Geyser State Park and drifted to Whitney Bridge, where he and his girlfriend got out and got a ride back to the park raft down the river again.

His girlfriend had scraped her knee so she decided not to go on the second trip down the river and got a ride to Whitney Bridge, Urquhart said.

She got to the bridge “just in time to see her boyfriend drift by on the raft, unresponsive. When deputies arrived, the woman was hysterical, and said her boyfriend has been missing on the river for about an hour,” Urquhart said.

Washington State Patrol’s search and rescue aircraft was called upon and a “hot spot” was located downriver from the bridge where Sgt. Cameron Lefler was sent to a driveway in the 21200 block of Southeast Green Valley Road.

“From there Sgt. Lefler made his way through thick underbrush to the river,” Urquhart said. “He found the subject in the water, extremely hypothermic and unable to move. The sergeant dropped his duty belt and waded into the water up to his waise to get to the man.”

Because the man had suffered extreme hypothermia, Lefler carried the man on his back to an aid car, a hike of about one-quarter to one-half mile.

The man was treated and taken to Auburn Regional Medical Center where he was treated.

“Surprisingly, alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the incident,” Urquhart said.

Mountainview Fire spokesman Tim Perciful offered tips to people who are considering spending time on the river this summer.

“Many people are getting on the Green River to go inner tubing,” Perciful said in an e-mail. “People should be sure to wear a life vest any time they are on or near the river. They should also be sure to inform family and/or friends of their plan such as; where they are going to put in, where they are going to take out, an estimated time off of the river, and the names of the people in your party.”

Perciful also suggested doing a little research before heading out.

“Anytime you are planning on floating on the river you should know the conditions of the river and the hazards that you may face,” he said. “Rivers can be dangerous and people need to be prepared before they decide to float down a river.”