A tragic incident unfolded at Tualatin's Jurgens Park yesterday evening when a man drowned in the Tualatin River. As reported by KOIN 6 News, the man apparently went under the water and did not resurface, prompting a response from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R). The emergency call came in around 5:40 p.m., and the water rescue team, supported by divers and drone surveillance, initiated a search operation.
Approximately 35 minutes after the initial emergency call, the man's body was discovered submerged in the river. Upon recovery, emergency responders examined the man and determined that he had deceased before being found. No further information regarding the man's identity or the circumstances leading to the drowning has been released at this moment.
The drowning occurred while the man was reportedly enjoying a recreational outing with his family. Valley Times notes that the distress call to 911 was made at 5:42 p.m. Passersby also joined in the search efforts, including Charlie Young, who shared his experience with KPTV. "There was a kid, two kids and a dad, that were swimming through the water and we didn’t realize anything had happened until a kid was on his phone and he was calling emergency services and we were informed on the situation and that’s when we jumped in the water and tried to help them out," said Young.
Despite the efforts, the search ended in heartache when TVF&R crews found the man in the murky waters close to where he had last been seen. The man was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. Following the recovery, TVF&R highlighted the importance of safety precautions, recommending that individuals should wear life jackets while engaging in aquatic activities.
