MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. — A man and his 7-year-old daughter were pronounced dead after being pulled from the Sandy River downstream from Dabney State Recreation Area Tuesday evening.
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) identified the victims as Erislandy Fernandez-Sanchez, 42, and his daughter Jenni Fernandez-Suarez. Both of them lived in Portland.
Deputies responded at 8:23 p.m. to the need for a water rescue on the river, southeast of Troutdale.
MCSO spokesman Chris Liedle said the girl was floating on the river when her floatie overturned. Her dad went in to save her. They were not wearing lifejackets at the time. Others at the scene told police neither of them resurfaced.
Deputies first found the dad in the water near the Stark Street Bridge and pulled him out of the river unresponsive. They performed CPR until medics arrived. The child was found about an hour later, also near the Stark Street Bridge. CPR was performed on her as well.
Father and daughter were both pronounced dead at the hospital.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with their memorial expenses.
The sheriff's office said this was the third and fourth drowning on the Sandy River in July. On July 3, a 21-year-old drowned at Dabney State Park. On July 10, a 33-year-old died at Oxbow Regional Park.
None of the victims were wearing life jackets, police said.
This story will be updated.