PORTLAND, Ore. — On Wednesday, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of Naomi Pomeroy, the award-winning Portland chef who died in a tubing accident on Saturday evening.
The sheriff's office said that around 10 a.m., people canoeing on the Willamette River called 911 to report the body, which was found about a half mile upstream of Hyak Park between Corvallis and Albany. Shortly afterwards, deputies located Pomeroy's body "on a shallow section of bedrock near the middle of the river with about one to two feet of water."
Pomeroy drowned in the Willamette River on Saturday about 100 yards upstream from Mary's River. An investigation found Pomeroy, her husband and one other person were floating on inner tubes, which were tied together, and a paddle board. Deputies said they got caught on an exposed snag in the water, and Pomeroy was held under water by the paddle board leash. She was not wearing a life jacket.
Deputies said Tuesday that those planning on floating on the river should not tie themselves to a paddle board unless they have a quick-release leash. If you have two or more inner tubes together, Oregon law requires everyone — regardless of age — to wear a life jacket. Kids ages 12 and younger, are always required to wear a life jacket.
Pomeroy, who was 49 years old, had just recently opened a frozen custard shop, Cornet Custard, on Southeast Division in Portland and was in the midst of opening a new bistro in the former Woodsman Tavern location next door.