Press Release: Search Underway for Missing Kayaker on Willamette River
Oregon City, OR – On Saturday, April 12, 2025, at approximately 10:52 p.m., multiple 911 calls alerted authorities to a kayaker in distress on the Willamette River, just upstream of Willamette Falls. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a lone adult male lose control of his blue hard-shell kayak, ultimately going over the falls and failing to resurface.
In response to the urgent situation, the Clackamas County Water Rescue Consortium swiftly mobilized. This collaborative effort included personnel from Clackamas Fire District #1, Lake Oswego Fire Department, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, as well as the Marine Unit of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. Land support was also provided by additional resources from the Canby Police Department, Oregon City Police Department, and West Linn Police Department.
To enhance the search operation, aerial support was engaged, with a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft from the Portland Police Bureau joining the effort. Despite extensive nighttime rescue operations, the missing kayaker has yet to be located. Search efforts will resume Sunday morning as teams work diligently to find the individual.
At this time, the identity of the missing man has not been released pending further developments. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing updates as new information becomes available.
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to this case to reach out through the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or via the online submission form at www.clackamas.us/sheriff/tip.
For media inquiries, contact Sergeant Hayden Sanders, Public Information Officer, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Communications Unit.
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