Kayaker’s body found after he hit a log, flipped and vanished in river, Oregon cops say
A kayaker’s body was found in an Oregon river after he hit a log and flipped into the water, deputies said.
The man went into the Willamette River at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
He was floating down the river from the Middle Fork boat launch in Jasper and was pulling a person on an inner tube attached to his boat with a rope, deputies said.
The kayaker then struck a log in the water, flipping his boat and sending him into the water, deputies said.
“After striking the log, the kayak became entangled in the log,” deputies said.
He then vanished under the water.
The person on the inner tube was able to make it to the shoreline, deputies said.
Rescuers found the kayaker in the water but couldn’t revive him.
Deputies are not releasing his name.
Jasper is about 15 miles southeast of Eugene.
“I was one of the 5 total and unfortunately only 4 of us left that day. This was a freak accident and the undertow was far too strong and fast,” Ariel Smythe commented on Facebook.
“He was a good kid with so much ahead of him. 19 years old!” they wrote.
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
This story was originally published August 1, 2023 at 8:48 AM with the headline "Kayaker’s body found after he hit a log, flipped and vanished in river, Oregon cops say."
