58-year-old grandmother drowns in Nisqually River

OLYMPIA -- A 58-year-old grandmother died after being pulled from the Nisqually River,  the Thurston County Sheriff's Office said Monday.

The woman and her 14-year-old grandson were floating on inner tubes down the river late Saturday afternoon when witnesses heard a commotion and saw the two in the river hanging on a snag, the office said.  The boy was able to make his way to the shore on the north side of the river. But his grandmother lost her grip and floated farther down the river where she got caught on a root ball of a downed tree.

Witnesses tried to wade into the river to reach the woman but were unable due to the fast current. Others were able to launch a boat and pulled her into it. CPR was started and she was transported to St. Peter Hospital, where she died.

Neither of the two were wearing life preservers, the sheriff's office said.