Police say missing paddle boarder likely died

“Crews believe it is highly unlikely that he survived,” said the Hood River County Sheriff's Office in a written release at 9:25 p.m. Saturday night.

HRCSO said the search will continue until Pombo is located, but video and witness statements, and an extensive search of the area, point to a low chance the paddle boarder survived.

Pombo was visiting Hood River for a paddle board race over the weekend, according to the report. He paddled out on the Columbia River from Viento State Park around 1:45 Friday, and headed east to Hood River to practice for the weekend downwind race. According to witness statements, Pombo intended to paddle towards the Washington shore, splitting up from his group.

The wind on Friday afternoon was strong, rippling the river with great swells — Pombo was not wearing a life vest, nor a lanyard while he was out on the water.

A kiteboarder saw Pombo fall into the water but quickly lost sight of him. Several other paddle boarders were on scene within minutes and were unable to find him. Pombo was last seen wearing a gray shirt, black shorts and a gray hat.

Members of Pombo’s family will be arriving from Florida in the coming days, the Sheriff's Office reported.

County dispatch first received a call around 3:30 p.m. Friday, after a paddle board and gear were found floating mid-channel in the Columbia River.

HRCSO inspected the gear and found that the board belonged to Pombo.

Multiple agencies, volunteers and friends of Pombo teamed up to investigate the man’s disappearance.

Investigators recovered a go-pro camera that had been attached to Pombo's board. Video on the camera showed that Pombo had fallen off of his board on the western edge of the area known as Swell City.

An aircraft and boat from HRCSO, as well as a boat from the Skamania County Sheriff's Office, searched the river and surrounding shorelines, until officials suspended operations due to darkness. City police and local volunteers also assisted with the investigation and search for Pombo.

Searchers began operations at first light on Saturday morning from the water and the sky. Watercraft from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Wasco County Sheriff's Office and Klickitat County Sheriff's Office are assisting Hood River County deputies with search operations. Crews from Columbia River Intertribal Fisheries Enforcement are focusing on the shoreline along state highways.

Saturday’s searches focused on the Columbia River along I-84, from Swell City west to milepost 57. Aerial searches pressed on throughout the day, as well as ground teams looking along river's edge, from both Oregon’s and Washington’s shores.

HRCSO urges everyone on the river to use a flotation device as required by law.

“The Columbia River current is stronger than most people believe and strong winds increase danger when you go into the water,” said HRCSO.

This story is breaking and will be updated as the Hood River News receives more information.