A tragic incident unfolded on Friday afternoon at Willamette Park in West Linn, as a man drowned in the river, confirmed by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. According to KATU, a 911 caller reported sighting a man struggling in the water near the park's boat ramp dock before disappearing under the tides.
Upon the arrival of TVF&R’s rescue swimmers, after reportedly being dispatched within minutes, they plunged into the river's depths; a challenge compounded by the water's murkiness. The man was eventually located and promptly pulled ashore. Efforts to resuscitate him began immediately but were ultimately unsuccessful, informed officials in a statement obtained by KGW.
The identity of the man has been withheld pending notification of next of kin, as law enforcement officials iterated. The tragedy of the situation was underscored by TVF&R’s Cassandra Ulven who, in an interview with KATU, emphasized the hazards of swimming alone. "The man who drowned earlier today in West Linn was alone," said Cassandra Ulven, division chief for TVF&R. "We always really encourage people not to swim alone. 90% of fatalities in the water are when people aren't wearing a life vest. That was the case today. Sadly, this man did not have a life vest on, and it does not take much time at all to get into trouble when you're swimming."
Reinforcing water safety, the officials reminded the public that swimming while impaired by drugs or alcohol is dangerous. As detailed by KPTV, with water temperatures still quite cool, persons entering the water could experience cold shock. Children, moreover, should never be left unsupervised in the water.
