DROWNING INCIDENT

Josephine Co. Sheriff's Office

On Friday, May 12th, 2023 at approximately 4:53 PM, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office was notified of two adult subjects in distress near the boat ramp at Indian Mary Park. 

Information provided to 911 indicated bystanders pulled an adult male from the Rogue River and CPR was in progress.  The second subject, an adult female, was last seen floating down river from the boat ramp. 

The Sheriff’s Office, as well as Rural Metro Fire Department, responded and began searching the area for the female subject.  Searchers walked the riverbanks and additional personnel searched the water with the Sheriff’s Office marine boat.   

Witnesses at the scene stated the male and female were down at the river with their dog which swam to the other side of the river and would not swim back.  The female entered the water to retrieve the dog and became overwhelmed by the swift current.  The male threw a rope to the female without success. He then entered the water himself to rescue the female and also became overwhelmed by the current and went under the water.  Bystanders at the scene were able to pull the male from the river and start CPR. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died. 

Search efforts were called off around 8:30 PM and resumed the next day at 8:00 AM with assistance from the Josephine County Search and Rescue Team, AMR and Rural Metro Fire Department.  Again, the search effort was called off after multiple hours of searching.

The female is still missing at the time of this release and next of kin have been notified. Further details will be provided as they become available. 

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