BOARDMAN, Ore. – A crew with the Boardman Fire Rescue District conducted a search and rescue operation in the Columbia River at around 3:40 p.m. today.

A kayaker's girlfriend reported him missing when he didn't return to the shoreline, the district said in a release .

The search and rescue crew located the kayak, but the kayaker was not nearby.

Shortly after, the crew found the kayaker bobbing in the river.

Despite being exhausted from swimming without a life jacket, he was unharmed, the district said.

The kayaker explained he was knocked out of his kayak by a rogue wave.

He was safely returned to his family.

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