After a multi-day search operation, a volunteer dive team discovered the body of a man in the Willamette River on Friday evening, who is believed to be 35-year-old Derik Morganstern of Salem, KOIN reports. The search began when Morganstern was presumed drowned after attempting to save a woman struggling in the river earlier in the week.
The recovery marked a somber end to an incident that began with Morganstern's valiant act to rescue another. Salem firefighters, along with Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies, searched tirelessly using drones, a boat, and on-foot efforts to locate Morganstern, unfortunately, to no avail, as detailed by KATU. It wasn't until late Friday that the body was finally recovered from the river.
Authorities had employed extensive resources in the search which continued the day after Morganstern disappeared. A joint operation between the Salem Police and Polk County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team conducted another boat search of the river, which did not initially result in locating Morganstern, KPTV reported. The unwavering efforts highlighted the community's commitment to finding answers in light of the tragic event.
The Salem Police Department has not released specific details on where along the river Morganstern's body was discovered, neither revealing the exact time when the woman he tried to save was rescued.
Morganstern's actions are remembered as heroic, stemming from a selfless inclination to help a person in dire need. As the Oregon State Medical Examiner works to officially identify the body, the community mourns the loss of a resident whose final act was to try and save another's life, a detail that imprints a legacy beyond his years.
