A 49-year-old man visiting from California drowned this afternoon after his inflatable kayak overturned on the Rogue River.
He was not wearing a life jacket. His rented inflatable kayak rolled in the “Slide Hole” rapid just below the Casey State Park up river from Shady Cove. Fellow rafters attempted to throw him a life jacket but were unsuccessful and he disappeared down river.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Marine deputies responded to search for the missing man. Jackson County Fire District 4 firefighters discovered him down river and performed CPR. Mercy Flights ambulance responded to transport him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
JCSO reminds everyone that during summertime the river is swift and cold. And to remember to always wear your life jacket
Courtesy of JCSO
