Update: The rafters were located by the U.S. Coast Guard shortly before 5:30 a.m. on a sandbar a few miles upriver from Dabney State Park. The Coast Guard helicopter was able to land on the sandbar and pick up the rafters who were cold but uninjured. They were transported to the Troutdale Airport.
The four rafters are identified as Cody West, Age 27; Chris Penhall, Age 30; Tevin Cotton, Age 23; Cory Hood, Age 34, all of Vancouver, Wa. When asked about what happened the rafters said they became worried when it got dark and they couldn't see where they were going on the river. They stopped at a sandbar they came across and stayed the night on the sandbar. They were cold but did have some food and water with them and were able to make a fire to help keep a little warm. All of them said if they did another river float they would definitely start earlier in the day to ensure they would finish in the daylight and were happy to be safe and reunited with their friends.
-----------Original Message--------------
On Monday August 15, 2016 at approximately 11:30 p.m. MCSO deputies responded to Dabney State Park to take a report of four rafters who were overdue on the Sandy River. The group of originally six rafters started from Oxbow Park at approximately 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon. Shortly after they began their float from Oxbow, two of the rafters decided to stop and walk back up to their vehicle at Oxbow. The plan was to meet the others, four adult males, who were continuing downriver at Dabney State park the planned finish for their float. The pair drove the vehicle down to Dabney to await the arrival of the others still rafting down the river, but they never arrived.
MCSO River Patrol and MCSO Search and Rescue Coordinators were contacted and responded to Dabney State Park. MCSO River Patrol and patrol deputies checked roads parallel to the river in case the rafters had decided to get out from the river and try and walk out. SAR Coordinators worked through the morning to arrange for U.S. Coast Guard to assist in the search along the river and they are now responding to assist in search efforts.
The Command Post is located at Dabney State Park. Media staging is located near the Command Post.
Updates will be provided as more information is available.
The four rafters are identified as Cody West, Age 27; Chris Penhall, Age 30; Tevin Cotton, Age 23; Cory Hood, Age 34, all of Vancouver, Wa. When asked about what happened the rafters said they became worried when it got dark and they couldn't see where they were going on the river. They stopped at a sandbar they came across and stayed the night on the sandbar. They were cold but did have some food and water with them and were able to make a fire to help keep a little warm. All of them said if they did another river float they would definitely start earlier in the day to ensure they would finish in the daylight and were happy to be safe and reunited with their friends.
-----------Original Message--------------
On Monday August 15, 2016 at approximately 11:30 p.m. MCSO deputies responded to Dabney State Park to take a report of four rafters who were overdue on the Sandy River. The group of originally six rafters started from Oxbow Park at approximately 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon. Shortly after they began their float from Oxbow, two of the rafters decided to stop and walk back up to their vehicle at Oxbow. The plan was to meet the others, four adult males, who were continuing downriver at Dabney State park the planned finish for their float. The pair drove the vehicle down to Dabney to await the arrival of the others still rafting down the river, but they never arrived.
MCSO River Patrol and MCSO Search and Rescue Coordinators were contacted and responded to Dabney State Park. MCSO River Patrol and patrol deputies checked roads parallel to the river in case the rafters had decided to get out from the river and try and walk out. SAR Coordinators worked through the morning to arrange for U.S. Coast Guard to assist in the search along the river and they are now responding to assist in search efforts.
The Command Post is located at Dabney State Park. Media staging is located near the Command Post.
Updates will be provided as more information is available.