A tragic incident unfolded on the Columbia River near Government Island last Saturday when a man fell off a boat and never resurfaced. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) River Patrol was called to the scene following a 911 distress call around 2:00 p.m. Efforts by multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, to rescue the man transitioned from a rescue to a recovery operation after the individual was presumed drowned.
Multiple units were involved in the initial response and subsequent search efforts. The Vancouver Fire Department, Portland Fire & Rescue, Port of Portland Fire, and a U.S. Coast Guard boat and helicopter rapidly converged to aid in the search, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. The MCSO Dive Team took over the operation but faced challenges during the recovery efforts. The divers confronted powerful currents beneath the river, which they believed could have carried the body downstream.
The ongoing investigation has revealed that the man who drowned was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the accident and was not wearing a life jacket. This critical detail emerged from witness interviews. The identity of the deceased has not been shared publicly, pending notification of the man's family.
