Newberg man drowns in Willamette River

NEWBERG, Ore. -- A Newberg man drowned in the Willamette River near Rogers Landing Boat Launch on Monday afternoon.

Yamhill County Sheriff Jack Crabtree identified the man as Oscar Cortes-Perez, 36, who had lived in Newberg for about 10 years. He most recently lived with friends at various locations around the city.  Most of his family lives in Mexico. 

Yamhill County Sheriff's Deputies, Newberg-Dundee Police Officers and the Newberg Fire Department Water Rescue Team all responded to the area at 1:35 p.m. The crews were responding to 9-1-1 calls saying that a man was struggling in the water and then disappeared, said Crabtree.

Crabtree said there was a marine patrol boat nearby. However, it took Fire Rescue divers nearly 15 minutes to locate the man under the water. Resuscitation efforts began at the shore, and continued as he was taken to a local hospital where Cortes-Perez was pronounced dead. 

Witnesses told police that Cortes-Perez victim was about 40 feet from the shore on a small flotation device when it tipped over. He reportedly struggled to regain control a short time before going under water.
    
The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case with the Yamhill County Medical Examiner's Office.

Rogers Landing is along the Willamette River, just upstream from Champoeg State Park and about two miles from the mouth of the Yamhill River.  Ash Island is along the south side of the landing. The landing is along the south side of Newberg, off Hightway 99 W.  Marion County borders the south side of the river bend with Yamhill County along the north.

-- Information and photo courtesy Yamhill County Sheriff's Office.