Body of missing paddle boarder found in Columbia River

“It’s just a grim reminder of what can happen,” said Hood River County Sheriff Matt English.

Pombo, who was originally from Uruguay, and lived in Miami, was visiting Hood River for the Naish Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge over the weekend.

In a “practice run” Friday afternoon, Pombo paddled out on the river from Viento State Park, headed east toward Hood River. He was not wearing a life vest, nor a tether while he was out on the water.

Video evidence from a GoPro camera clipped to Pombo’s board showed him falling into the mid-channel of the river near Swell City, and swimming for roughly one minute before vanishing from view. Witnesses combed the area within minutes, searching to no avail.

An intensive search by multiple police agencies and Gorge paddle boarders yielded no results until Wednesday morning, when a HRCSO pilot found Pombo’s body, which had surfaced slightly downriver from where he went under, “just south of mid-channel,” said English.

Boats from the sheriff’s office and Columbia River Intertribal Fisheries Enforcement (CRITFE) teamed up to recover Pombo’s body.

English said officials were able to positively identify the body as Pombo. There likely won’t be an autopsy because “this case is pretty clear,” he said.

“We feel terrible for the family … it’s a tragic event. We’re just glad that we could help when they have a really hard time,” said English.

Members of Pombo’s family, including his wife and brother, arrived from Florida on Tuesday evening, a friend of Pombo's said.

Friends of Pombo have set up a Gofundme.com account for his family, with a stated goal to cover airfare and hotel costs in travelling from Miami to Portland, and then Hood River.

The donation fund’s goal was $10,000 — in three days, it outstripped that with $16,230.

Coordinators of the page said additional funds will go to “medical and other expenses associated with this tragedy” as well as “water safety outreach and education in Andres’ honor.”

HRCSO has urged everyone on the river to use a flotation device as required by law, as well as other available safety equipment when recreating on the river. HRCSO has boosted its marine patrol efforts since June.

“The Columbia River current is stronger than most people believe and strong winds increase the danger to recreationalists,” said HRCSO in a written release Wednesday.