Ernie Fields, marine deputy for Josephine County, said he was notified at 9:49 p.m., and he, Sheriff Gil Gilbertson, a deputy and a search and rescue volunteer launched a power boat at Ennis Riffle, three miles downstream of Indian Mary.
Using flashlights, they found Mongini's body floating around 11 p.m. near the bottom of Taylor Creek Canyon, just up from Morrison's Lodge. Fields said Mongini was identified by identification in his wallet, and his clothing. Fields notified one of Mongini's daughters this morning and was in the process of contacting other relatives.
Mongini, 66, of Lincoln, Calif., jumped out of a raft to save his dog on Thursday afternoon between Hog Creek boat ramp and Hellgate Canyon. Mongini's girlfriend, Lane H. Gehres, 59, of Woodbridge, Calif., got the dog back into the raft, but Mongini disappeared in the dangerous waters.
It's been a dangerous summer in the Rogue River corridor downstream from Grants Pass.
In May, 19-year-old Joshua Eddy of Rogue River drowned below Rainie Falls after falling in the river. On July 2, 17-year old Garth Hall fell to his death at Hellgate Canyon Overlook during a fishing trip. On July 9, 20-year-old Sean Kruger drowned while trying to swim across the Rogue just upstream from Griffin Park. His body was found a week later by rafters just downstream.
On Monday, a pickup ran off Galice Road and rolled 75 feet down to the river just upstream of Morrison's Lodge, seriously injuring a woman passenger.
Another drowning occurred on the upper Rogue, near Union Creek, in May.
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