A 72-year-old man tragically lost his life while wakeboarding on the Columbia River near Government Island. According to a report by KPTV, the accident occurred on Sunday morning when the victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was struck by a boat propeller. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and emergency responders rushed to the scene at 11 a.m. following a 911 call. Unfortunately, the man was pronounced dead before they could administer aid.
The circumstances of the tragic event are still under scrutiny. The man was part of a group engaging in water sports activities. "So, we know that the gentleman was in the water wakeboarding and somehow, he did end up getting pulled, the rope got wrapped around the propeller, and he got pulled under the boat," MCSO spokesperson Plock revealed, as per KGW. Details remain to be clearly understood as the investigation proceeds. The sheriff's office is aiming to fully piece together the accident's events by interviewing witnesses and the group accompanying the victim.
Further details shared by KOIN include that the man "sustained a traumatic injury to his head" and was submerged "under the boat, underwater, for an estimated five minutes before members of his party were able to get him out of the water." The response by Fire & Rescue medics concluded at the M. James Gleason Boat Ramp, where the body was transferred to the care of the medical examiner’s office to establish the exact cause of death.
