Overturned raft causes death on the Rogue

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, at about 12:41pm, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch 911 Center received a Text to the 911 line, from Agness resident Martin Gillette. Gillette reported the drowning of a woman at Two-Mile Rapids, upriver from Agness. Information was provided that the female victim was on a rafting excursion with three others and a dog that started at Foster Bar.

Shortly after being on the water, the two females on the raft and a dog were flipped out at the Two-Mile Rapids. Others in the rafting party were able to get both females to shore, but one had drowned. Dispatch paged out Agness Fire and Rescue and Reach Air along with request to page out Mercy Air.

Marine Sergeant Jared Gray had been at Huntly Park earlier doing water training with SAR, Gold Beach Fire and Police, Sixes River Fire Department, USFS, Aquatic Safety and Coos County Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Gray started upriver in the marine boat and picked up two members of the Coos County Sheriff’s Office at the Lobster Creek Boat Ramp. They then responded to the Two-Mile rapids.

Once on scene, there were other rafters that had arrived. The victim, identified as sixty-six-year-old Mary Kohn of Powers, Oregon was transported back down to Lobster Creek where she was released to Redwood Memorial Services out of Brookings. According to the Marine Sergeant, there were life vests aboard the raft but no-one in the rafting party had worn them.

The next of kin of the deceased has been notified. As of this press release, the dog, named Teddy, that was in the raft has not been located. Teddy is a black and white Australian Shepard type dog with a pink collar. If found, please report in to your local authorities.