HOOD RIVER, Ore.-The search for a man missing in the Columbia River since a fishing boat capsized on Sept. 25 is ongoing and is now being classified as a recovery mission, rather than a rescue.
The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office and other regional law enforcement agencies responded to the incident near the mouth of the White Salmon River around 11:39 a.m.
Six people were pulled from the water, two of which were transported to the hospital, according to the HRCSO.
A seventh person, identified as Michael Shufeldt of Woodland, Washington, who was aboard the 24-food fishing boat was not found during the initial search of the area.
On Sept. 26, the search for the missing boater became a recovery mission and divers found the boat in about 40 feet of water around 2 p.m.
Investigation and recovery efforts are ongoing at this time and Shufeldt is now presumed to be dead, according to an update from the HRCSO.
The capsizing and sinking of the boat is considered an accident due to a large wave breaking over the stern of the boat during unsafe weather conditions.
