A frantic search is in progress in Oregon following reports that a group of six individuals was swept over a waterfall on Saturday, resulting in one fatality, three injuries requiring hospitalization, and two others missing.
Search and rescue teams responded shortly before 3 p.m. to Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River near Bend, after receiving a 911 report of the group going over the falls, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
One individual was confirmed deceased at the location. Three others were retrieved from the river and transported to a nearby hospital. There was no immediate update on their conditions.
Two people remain missing as a multi-agency search and rescue operation is underway to find them, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office said Bend Fire and Rescue and the Bend Police Department also responded to help on Saturday, with the latter providing drone support for aerial searches.
Search and rescuers recovered the body of one individual and pulled three others from the water on Saturday. No update on the conditions of the three survivors was immediately available. (Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office )
The operation paused Saturday night and resumed Sunday morning using drones, marine patrol boats and three K-9 units. A 15-member swift water rescue team scoured all high-interest areas that drone imagery flagged, according to the sheriff’s office.
A 15-member swift water rescue team has been scouring the area for the two missing people. (Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office )
Despite the effort, neither missing person was found Sunday. The search was set to resume Monday morning, officials said.
It was unclear what activity the group was doing before they were swept over the waterfall.
The names of the victims and survivors were withheld until families were notified.
