Eugene teen drowns in Columbia River
THE DALLES, Ore. - A 19-year-old Eugene-area man drowned in the Columbia River while trying to swim back to shore from a small isalnd near the base of The Dalles Bridge.
The body of James Hawkins was recovered Monday morning around 9 a.m. He vanished Sunday evening.
His companions called 911 arond 5:30 p.m. Sunday. They told authorities Hawkins swam from the Oregon side of the river out to a small island. As he attempted to swim back, he was swept downriver by thecurrent.
Hawkins was not using any kind of flotation device.
Emergency responders from Wasco County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police were on scene within minutes of the 911 call.
A search and rescue boat from the sheriff's office and a jet boat from the Oregon State Police launched in an attempt to locate the missing person.
An additional three boats responded to the scene, one from the Sherman County Sheriff's Office. All personnel spanned the area in an attempt to locate the swimmer but were unsuccessful.
Rescue efforts continued throughout the evening until it became too dark to safely navigate, police said.
Rescue efforts resumed at sunrise Monday.
Once again another tragic event that could have been prevented by wearing a LIFEJACKET !! so sad to see and it's just so easy to stay alive just think.