A 26-year-old Oregon City man has died following a drowning incident on the Willamette River near the Black Canyon Campground in Lane County, Oregon.
According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and Oakridge Fire personnel responded around 3:20 p.m. on July 18 after receiving a report of a drowning.
Authorities said a caller reported that his son had been pulled from the water and was not breathing. People at the scene immediately began performing CPR, and those efforts continued until firefighters arrived.
Despite the rescue attempts by bystanders and emergency responders, the man did not survive.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Justin Daniel Brudvig, 26, of Oregon City. Investigators determined that Brudvig was paddleboarding on the river without a lifejacket when the incident occurred.
Following the tragedy, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office reminded residents and visitors to take proper safety precautions while enjoying local waterways. Officials encouraged everyone to wear a properly fitting lifejacket, stay sober while around water, avoid entering the water alone, and use only breakaway tethers when attached to a watercraft.
The investigation into the drowning has been completed, and authorities continue to urge the public to practice water safety to help prevent future tragedies.
