Missing kayaker near Willamette Falls was 20-year-old California man, deputies say
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The search for a missing kayaker is ongoing after the man, identified only as a 20-year-old Californian, was last seen plunging over the Willamette Falls in Oregon City, according to Clackamas County deputies.
The search for the kayaker began Saturday night when multiple people called 911 to report a kayaker 'in distress' just upstream of Willamette Falls. Other witnesses then claimed to see the kayaker go over the falls and not resurface.
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Searchers found the man's blue hard-shell kayak near Elk Rock Island early Sunday morning, but around 4:30 p.m. to resume Monday.
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said its search and rescue team and marine unit are on the scene Monday morning as the search continues.
Sgt. Nate Thompson told KOIN 6 News the missing kayaker was here on vacation with his family and was not experienced in kayaking.
'He was a very inexperienced kayaker,' he said. 'Maybe been on a kayak, a couple of times in a lake and not an experienced kayaker as far as, like, river kayaking.'
Those who called law enforcement for help were camping along the river when they saw the man in the water.
'Just before going over the falls, the male actually jumped out of the kayak, attempted to swim,' Thompson said. 'They witnessed the kayak go over the falls, and then they witnessed the male pull up at the falls.'
KOIN 6 News previously spoke to community member Paul Kays, who said, 'You need to be aware of your water surroundings when you go out on the river. We kayak and whitewater raft and it's like, you don't want to go into a spot where you don't know what's going on around you, like is there a waterfall.'
Other people who live upstream from the falls told KOIN 6 News they do kayak near there — but in the summer, when the water level is lower and calmer.
Late Sunday afternoon, , but the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said it was not the kayaker, as 'the body appears to have been under water for some time.'
No further information about the kayaker's identity has been released as of 1 p.m.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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