Outdoors

Portland Man Drowns Near Oxbow Regional Park

It’s the second drowning to occur in the Sandy River in two weeks.

By Matthew Singer
10-22-13 fall autumn Oxbow Sandy River nature trees Oxbow Regional Park. (Metro)

A 33-year-old man drowned in the Sandy River on Saturday, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.

Portland resident Jose Marcelino Castillo-Pacheco was unconscious when he was pulled from the river at Oxbow Regional Park near Gresham around 6 pm on July 10. Two park rangers and several bystanders performed CPR but were unsuccessful in reviving him.

Castillo-Pacheco was later pronounced dead at Mount Hood Medical Center.

It’s the second drowning to occur in the Sandy River in two weeks, amid a blazing summer that has driven people to lakes and rivers to find relief. On June 29, 21-year-old Jose Pascual disappeared while swimming at Dabney State Recreation Area. His body was discovered four days later.

In both cases, authorities say neither man was wearing a life vest.

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Matthew Singer

Matthew Singer

A native Southern Californian, former Arts & Culture Editor Matthew Singer ruined Portland by coming here in 2008. He is an advocate for the canonization of the Fishbone and Oingo Boingo discographies, believes pro-wrestling is a serious art form and roots for the Lakers. Fortunately, he left Portland for Tucson, Arizona, in 2021.

Willamette Week’s reporting has real-life impact that changes laws, forces action by civic leaders, and drives compromised politicians from public office.

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