SANDPOINT — A Sandpoint Police officer rescued a man from the Pend Oreille River after the boat he was in took on water and sank on the west side of the Long Bridge on Thursday morning.

Police Chief Corey Coon said two men were reportedly floating in the river after their vessel sank shortly before 9:30 a.m. near the north end of the bridge. Officers Capt. Rick Bailey and Lt. Rob Dressel used throwable rescue rope devices to one man who was clutching an ice chest and appeared to be succumbing to cold-water immersion, although they were coming up short.

“It looked like he was giving up,” Coon said of the man who was struggling.

Coon said Dressel removed his duty gear, swam 40-50 feet out to the man and pulled him ashore.

“According to Dressel, It was ‘extremely cold,’” said Coon.

The surface temperature of the river at the Albeni Falls Dam was bouncing between 56-57 degrees on Thursday afternoon, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Water temperatures below 70 degrees are generally regarded as cold water capable of bringing on hypothermia, according to the U.S. Search & Rescue Task Force. Expected survival time in water between 50-60 degrees is one to two hours.

“It’s a really good reminder for water safety,” said Coon.

Selkirk Fire Rescue & EMS Chief Ron Stocking said both men were wearing life jackets. The outboard boat began taking on water after its anchor chain became fouled in the propeller when a gust of wind pushed the boat out of position, Stocking said, citing reports from the scene.

“The chain got caught up in the prop and it got pulled right down into the water,” said Stocking.

Stocking said the boat owner is working with a salvage company to retrieve the vessel.

Bonner County sheriff’s deputies and EMS also responded to the call.