MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR - Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is reporting that a man fell out of a boat, went under water and did not resurface. Multiple agencies including the MCSO Dive Team responded in an effort to rescue the man, but were not able to locate him.
On Saturday, July 27, 2024, a little before 2:00 p.m., the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) River Patrol responded to a 911 call that was made from a boat on the Columbia River near Government Island reporting that a man had fallen out of the boat, went under water and never resurfaced.
Boats from Vancouver Fire Department, Portland Fire & Rescue and Port of Portland Fire were also part of the initial response. A U.S. Coast Guard boat and helicopter also joined the search effort.
After an hour of searching for the man, without success, the man was presumed drowned and the rescue effort became a recovery. The MCSO Dive Team responded and dove multiple locations in the area in an attempt to locate and recover the man’s body. Unfortunately, that effort was also unsuccessful. MCSO divers reported very strong currents near the bottom of the river, which made it likely that the man’s body was washed down river.
Witness interviews indicate that the man who drown was intoxicated, and he was not wearing a life jacket. The man’s name is being withheld until next of kin notifications are complete.
