RICHLAND, Wash. – Two men in distress were reported to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office after one of the men waded through the Columbia River to Nelson Island and didn’t feel safe wading back.

Deputies received the report on September 25 around 9 p.m. according to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

One of the men was found “acting disorderly” near Leslie Grove Park. That man said that his friend was still on Nelson Island. He was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center by the Richland Fire Department.

Benton County deputies sent a drone to Nelson Island, where they had heard shouting and been told a man was there.

They confirmed that there was someone on the Island and made contact with him. The trapped man said that he had waded across the river earlier in the day, but didn’t feel

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