PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Portland Fire and Rescue spokesman says a 21-year-old man has drowned in the Sandy River in Oxbow Park.
Spokesman Paul Corah says the victim was wading Thursday afternoon near the boat ramp and started to struggle when the water got deeper. A woman in his group of friends tried to help but swam away after the victim grabbed her and almost pulled her under the water.
Corah tells The Oregonian (http://bit.ly/rrfOxD) that divers pulled the man out about 30 minutes later. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. He was not immediately identified pending notification of relatives.
The spokesman says the death was the fourth drowning in the last four days in the Portland metro area.