Unidentified Man Found Dead After Drowning in Columbia River Near Fairview’s Chinook Landing

On Wednesday afternoon, river‑patrol deputies with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a disturbance on the Columbia River near Fairview. They found a man floating in the channel on the south side of Lady Island, close to the eastern edge of Chinook Landing Marine Park, just where Northeast 223rd Avenue bends near the Camas power lines.

The deputies pulled the body from the water, and detectives along with the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived shortly thereafter. At this point, officials have released very few details – the victim’s name, age, and how he ended up in the river remain unknown.

“We’re still gathering information,” a sheriff’s spokesperson said, emphasizing that the case is still very much a work in progress. Because no cause of death has been confirmed, the incident is being treated as a presumed drowning pending the medical examiner’s findings.

Fairview residents who frequent Chinook Landing often use the river for fishing and recreation, so the news struck a nervous chord in the community. Local authorities are urging anyone who might have witnessed the event, or who has any information about the man, to come forward.

While the investigation continues, the incident serves as a somber reminder of the river’s power and the importance of water safety, especially in areas where currents can shift quickly near islands and park boundaries.