Body Found Floating Near Steel Bridge Amid Surge in Portland River Incidents

PORTLAND, Ore. — After Portland Fire & Rescue recovered a body found floating in the Willamette River near the Steel Bridge on July 27, just after 11:00 a.m., the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) opened an investigation.

Portland Fire & Rescue, which had dispatched a boat to the scene, confirmed the person was dead. The body was recovered by MCSO River Patrol deputies and taken to Cathedral Park, where it was turned over to the medical examiner, who will establish the identity of the deceased and the cause and manner of death.

According to the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s preliminary findings, most of the bodies recovered from Portland waterways died from drowning due to accidents or suicide. MCSO anticipates more body recoveries throughout the summer and the remainder of the year.

Earlier this year, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) indicated that the recoveries of bodies from the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, despite being tragic, are not unusual for the warmer months of the year.

In warmer weather, bodies in rivers begin to decompose at a faster rate, rising to the surface more quickly. Increased water activity in the spring months also increases the likelihood of remains being discovered in the summer.

MCSO urged anyone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis to seek help.