Video: Woman pulled from Skagit River

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MOUNT VERNON, Wash. – A woman had to be pulled from the rushing waters of the Skagit River Thursday afternoon as warmer temperatures are raising concerns in our local waters.

The powerful current carried the woman downstream, right past the Moose Lodge.

Larry Johnson and a friend watched from a riverside deck in surprise.

"And he said, 'Man, there's another one of them sea lions out here.' and I said, 'No, that's a guy swimming,'" said Johnson.

That guy was actually a woman who was slowly paddling, trying to make it to the western bank.

"I was standing there and I said, 'Well, maybe I should call 911,'" said Johnson.

Rivers like the Skagit can be deceiving this time of year. From the shore, the water can seem like it's not moving that fast, but it is.

"Got out there about maybe a hundred yards and then he couldn't go no farther that way," said Johnson.

About a mile downstream, the woman made it close enough to the bank for firefighters to pull her to safety. Rescuers say she was a bit hypothermic, but otherwise okay. She told them she had gotten in the water to rise off, but she slipped off some rocks and the river carried her away.