GALICE — The search continued today for a California man who jumped into the Rogue River on Thursday afternoon to save a dog and disappeared.
Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson said details remain hazy, but initial reports suggest the man, whose name has not been released, and a woman, also from California, were rafting near Hellgate Canyon when the white Scottish terrier jumped out of their boat sometime before 3:30 p.m.
Gilbertson said the man dove in after the dog. He was not wearing a life jacket.
Passengers on a Hellgate Excursions jetboat witnessed the incident. Ernie Fields, a sheriff's marine deputy, said the jetboat circled the area several times, trying to locate the man.
The woman and the dog were recovered unharmed, Fields said.
A Search and Rescue helicopter involved in the search had to make an emergency landing at the Hog Creek boat ramp after experiencing mechanical problems. No injuries were reported.
A Search and Rescue power boat combed the waters between Hog Creek and Indian Mary Park before the search was called off at around 6 p.m.
Gilbertson said a dive team hoped to continue the search today at the entrance to Hellgate Canyon. "We're going to look to see if it's safe enough to get into the water this morning," Fields said. "There's a tremendous current that kicks up there."
Why, oh why did a human give up their life for a dog...who survived? Even if it had never been in the water before, it probably could have dog-paddled to safety. And, why wasn't there a PFD for the dog, if they were going to be rafting? Answers that those who survied will have to face. What a sad ending to another beautiful day. And, of course, this happened up on the Rogue Gorge a few years ago, as well, so...nothing new.
Posted by: Ernie Coffman | July 20, 2012 at 09:38 PM