Just before 6 p.m., on Saturday, July 10, Multnomah County Sheriff’s deputies, Gresham firefighters and American Medical Response paramedics responded to Oxbow Regional Park in Gresham on a report that a swimmer had drowned. When deputies arrived, two park rangers and several Good Samaritans were performing CPR.
The 33-year-old male was transported to Mount Hood Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. The swimmer has been identified as Jose Marcelino Castillo-Pacheco, of Portland.
Specially trained volunteers with Trauma Intervention Program (TIP NW) responded and provided emotional aid, support and resources to the victim's family.
First responders would like to recognize the all the Good Samaritans, who attempted to save Castillo-Pacheco, including a teenage girl who was first to act by recognizing he was in distress and pulling him out of the water.
This is the second drowning in two weeks on the Sandy River. Neither swimmer was reportedly wearing a life jacket. MCSO deputies remind visitors to swim near a lifeguard and to wear a life jacket when swimming or boating. Life jackets save lives! Life jackets can be borrowed for free at several popular parks and boat ramps across Multnomah County.
Lifeguards are also available at Glenn Otto Community Park in Troutdale between Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends.
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