PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The search for a missing swimmer in the Columbia River was called off Monday night and is now a recovery effort.
The man in his 40s was swimming with a friend near Rooster Rock when he went under. He didn’t come back up, so his friend called 911 around 6:30 p.m.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office river patrol and fire crews had about 90 minutes of daylight to search before suspending their efforts at dark. The Gresham Fire department used sonar technology in the search but the man has not been found.
“This month has been a very bad month for water safety,” Sgt. Brandon White said. “If my count is right, we’ve lost 6 so far this month, which is a high number.”
Among the other drownings in Multnomah County were two boys, ages 8 and 15, who drowned at Oxbow Park about 2 weeks apart.
Officials stress the importance of wearing a life jacket, staying near a friend and sticking to parts of the river you know. It’s unknown whether the missing swimming at Rooster Rock was wearing a life jacket.
The recovery missing is set to resume Tuesday morning with the hope of bringing in a dive team to help search.