A 15-year-old boy drowned Tuesday evening at Blue Lake Regional Park in Fairview, despite an all-out effort by rescuers and bystanders to save him. A Gresham Fire rescue swimmer eventually pulled the teen from the water, and crews performed CPR on the beach, but he was later pronounced dead.
Search, Rescue and Community Effort
Emergency dispatchers received the first 911 calls around 5:40 p.m., and rescuers began scouring the lake, with some members of the public also entering the water to help search. About 45 minutes after those initial calls, a Gresham Fire rescue swimmer found the teen roughly 75 feet from shore and brought him in, according to KATU. Crews immediately started CPR on the sand but were unable to revive him, KATU reports.
Officials Urge Life Jackets After String of Drownings
Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deputy John Plock said the Blue Lake drowning was the third in about 10 days, and that in each case the victim was not wearing a life jacket. “The one thing that all three drownings have in common is none of them were wearing life jackets,” Plock said. He also noted that Blue Lake has a kiosk where visitors can borrow a life jacket, according to KATU.
Nearby Columbia River Incidents
Just a day earlier, on Monday, crews recovered a man after a multiagency search at Chinook Landing Marine Park. Authorities said he went underwater while fishing with relatives and was not wearing a life jacket, according to KPTV. That emergency came on the heels of a July 12 drowning near Rooster Rock State Park that claimed the life of a 26-year-old Portland man, underscoring how cold water, strong currents and hidden underwater debris can quickly overpower swimmers and boaters, KPTV reported.
How to Stay Safer
In the wake of these incidents, officials and rescue crews are urging swimmers and anglers to wear life jackets, avoid going into the water alone and stay close to shore. Park staff and safety partners can direct visitors to available flotation devices and other safety resources. Metro’s Blue Lake Regional Park page lists park hours and amenities and serves as a planning guide for visitors, according to Metro.
