Man disappears after dive into Columbia

DESERT AIRE - Search and rescue personnel from Grant County started a search of the Columbia River near here Sunday afternoon for a possible drowning victim and were still searching at deadline time for the Crescent Bar Chronicle on Tuesday.

According to Kyle Foreman, of Grant County Emergency Management Services, the man who is presumed drowned was part of a group of recreational boaters from western Washington. He had not been identified as of Tuesday morning out of respect for the family

Foreman said it appears the boats were at idle and some of the occupants were diving and swimming. The man for whom rescue personnel were searching made a dive and never came back up. Foreman said it was unknown if the group was using life jackets.

Grant County Sheriff's Deputies and Grant County Fire District No. 8 personnel were called to the scene at about 2:45 p.m. The search was begun shortly thereafter.

Grant County Marine deputies were assisted by the SARBOT remote controlled underwater search robot owned by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. They were unable to locate the missing man by dark.

As is customary, the search was suspended after dark for safety reasons. It was resumed early Monday morning. The man was still not located by the end of that day.

On Tuesday, local rescue personnel turned to outside help. The Seattle Police Department Harbor Patrol was brought in.

Information is sketchy, but Foreman believes the presumed drowning victim was in his 40s or 50s. Foreman said many of his family were gathered at the site during the search.

"I can only imagine what this man's family must be going through, and I continue to pray for them," Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones said.