The following is from the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office:
On July 5th at approximately 2:36 pm, Frontier Regional 911 received a text to 911 advising a person was lost and injured in the water. Additional information was obtained shortly after indicating a subject had drowned upriver from Cottonwood State Park on the John Day River. Resources from the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, South Gilliam County Ambulance Service, Sherman County Emergency Services, and Oregon State Parks began responding to the area.
The location of the incident is a remote area where cellular communication is poor. At approximately 2:51 pm, text to 911 indicated the subject was recovered and was being transported down the river to J.S. Burres Park for first responders.
During the course of the investigation, the subject and family were enjoying a day of fishing along the John Day River, when the subject got swept away from the river bank by the fast river current. The subject went underwater and was not located for about 10 minutes. Once the subject was located by family members, life saving measures were attempted by family and other river users who happened to be in the area. Life saving measures were unsuccessful.
The subject, a 28 year old male of Portland, Oregon, was declared deceased by medical professionals. Our office was assisted by Spencer, Libby, and Powell Funeral home.
We would like to remind our outdoor enthusiasts the John Day River is still flowing at a higher CFS rate than normal.
River Safety Reminder:
Never underestimate river currents—even strong swimmers can be swept away.
Always wear a life jacket when in or near natural water sources.
Stay out of fast-moving water, especially after storms or increased snowmelt.
Supervise children closely around all water bodies.
Know the conditions before entering rivers or lakes.
No further information will be released at this time out of respect for the family. Please keep the victim’s family in your thoughts.