Man fishing with cousin slips and vanishes into rushing river, Oregon officials say
A 35-year-old man was fishing with his cousin when he slipped in an Oregon river and vanished, deputies said.
Now he’s been missing for days.
Irwin Parcero Perez and his cousin were fishing from the bank of the Columbia River on July 16, the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Then Parcero Perez, of Boardman, walked farther into the river and slipped, deputies said. His cousin tried to find him in the water but couldn’t.
Rescuers began searching for the missing man using boats, drones, dive teams and a private plane. They couldn’t find Parcero Perez and called off the search when it got dark.
High winds on the river have paused search efforts, which will continue “as soon as the weather allows,” deputies said.
“This is another very sad reminder that the Columbia River is extremely powerful and dangerous,” deputies said in the post.
Authorities reminded the public to wear a life jacket in the Columbia River because of the “unexpected drop-offs” and the “very strong currents.”
Morrow County is in northeastern Oregon, and the Columbia River borders Washington.
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
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 July 18, 2023 at 8:36 AM with the headline "Man fishing with cousin slips and vanishes into rushing river, Oregon officials say."
