By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The victim from the boating accident on the Chehalis River on Monday is a 61-year-old man from Marysville.
Paul A. Philips drowned after he and his friend bailed out of their little fishing boat that began to sink when they ran into rapids and rocks, according to authorities.
It happened near Rainbow Falls State Park, off of state Route 6 west of Chehalis.
The survivor was able to find his friend, drag him to shore and performed CPR, but then had to swim across the river in search of help. He, a 43-year-old Chehalis area resident, was hospitalized for hypothermia.
The sheriff’s office estimates almost an hour passed from the time of the accident until he found a bicyclist on a trail to call 911 on a cell phone.
Philips was not wearing a life jacket, but his friend was, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.