Accident Database

Report ID#69748

2012-07-19
accident date
Ronald Mongini
victim
66
victim age
Rogue (6. Foster Bar to Gold Beach
river
6. Foster Bar to Gold Beach (options to 33.7 miles)
section
Between Hog Creek Boat Ramp and Hellgate Canyon
location
n/a
gage
Medium
water level
N/A
river difficulty
PFD Not Worn or Present
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Other
factors
Private
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

http://kdrv.com/page/251514 “GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The body of a man who drowned after he jumped off his raft to save his dog Thursday has yet to be recovered. Rural Metro Fire responded to a call Thursday afternoon and began the search for the man who was not wearing a life jacket. Hellgate Jetboat Excursions had a boat going through the area at the time and were alerted to the situation by the female passenger who was still in the raft the man had jumped out of. Hellgate Jetboat driver Donny Brent immediately called 9-1-1 and started to look for the man who had last been seen floating face down. “Fifty one people on board they just stepped up to the plate. Like I said we posted look outs, everybody did everything they could just to have every bit of eyes we could on the river” said Brent. The Oregon Department of Forestry had a helicopter in the area that was looking for wildfires started by lightning strikes. The helicopter assisted in the search for the man by flying over the river, but had an in flight emergency had to land at Hog Creek Boat Landing. The helicopter landed safely and nobody was injured.” http://www.jocosarblog.org/jocosarblog/2012/07/josephine-county-authorities-recover-body-of-rogue-drowning-victim.html ” GALICE — The body of drowning victim Ronald M. Mongini was recovered late Monday night after a woman who was fishing reported seeing the body float by at Indian Mary Park on the Rogue River, 21 miles downstream of Grants Pass. Ernie Fields, marine deputy for Josephine County, said he was notified at 9:49 p.m., and he, Sheriff Gil Gilbertson, a deputy and a search and rescue volunteer launched a power boat at Ennis Riffle, three miles downstream of Indian Mary. Using flashlights, they found Mongini’s body floating around 11 p.m. near the bottom of Taylor Creek Canyon, just up from Morrison’s Lodge. Fields said Mongini was identified by identification in his wallet, and his clothing. Fields notified one of Mongini’s daughters this morning and was in the process of contacting other relatives. Mongini, 66, of Lincoln, Calif., jumped out of a raft to save his dog on Thursday afternoon between Hog Creek boat ramp and Hellgate Canyon. Mongini’s girlfriend, Lane H. Gehres, 59, of Woodbridge, Calif., got the dog back into the raft, but Mongini disappeared in the dangerous waters.”

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