Man rescued from base of raging waterfall

STEVENSON, Wash. (AP) - Sheriff's deputies and firefighters have rescued a man who was trapped in rushing water at the base of a southwestern Washington waterfall after one of his legs got caught in some rocks.

The Skamania County sheriff's office says 19-year-old John Napierkowski was rescued Monday night from the bottom of Dougan Falls on the Washougal River.

The sheriff's office received a call shortly after 8 p.m. that the Washougal man was trapped near the falls in chest-deep water and couldn't move his legs.

First responders tied ropes and a harness to the man and were able to free him.

Napierkowski was taken to a hospital because he was trapped in the cold water for about an hour and was lethargic.

Authorities didn't say how his leg got stuck. However, the pool below the waterfall about 30 miles east of the Portland, Oregon, area is a popular swimming hole.