Franklin County deputies continued Thursday to search for a fisherman who was swept into the Columbia River and disappeared on Wednesday.
A Franklin County Sheriff’s Department search boat returned to the area near the Ringold Boat Launch north of Pasco about 7 a.m. Thursday to continue looking for the man believed to be in his 20s, Franklin Commander Marcus Conner told the Tri-City Herald.
He was fishing with a friend in the area and tried to cross a large irrigation canal that empties into the river and lost his footing about 1 p.m. Deputies in a county boat and Columbia Basin Dive Rescue crews searched for him without success.
The search continued Thursday, though sheriff’s officials were diverted for part of the day to another boating emergency on the river in another area.
On Friday morning, deputies with Franklin and Benton counties plan to resume the search using sonar.
While the water in the area isn’t cold, it does move quickly. The fisherman was wearing waders, which likely had water come up over them, making it hard to stay above the water surface.
He also wasn’t wearing a life jacket, said witnesses.
It’s unclear at this point how far the current may have carried him and where he will resurface, Conner said. Rusty Bell with Columbia Basin Dive Rescue said it can take three to seven days for a body to surface.
While there are reports the man was a farmworker and doesn’t have family in the area, the Herald was unable to confirm his background.
The ongoing search brought a lot of calls on social media for people to volunteer to help with scanning the water and shoreline.
Conner said they are not asking for or declining help but are asking that anyone who discovers any clothing along the shore in Richland or near Chiawana Park in Pasco to call the non-emergency dispatch number at 509-628-0333.
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