Officials identify boater who capsized in Columbia River, now presumed dead

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The boater who went missing after capsizing in the Columbia River on Wednesday has been identified and is now presumed dead, authorities said.

Though his remains have not yet been found, the boat the person was riding was successfully located on Thursday afternoon, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office said.

The missing boater was identified as Michael Shufeldt of Woodland, Washington.

“Michael was not located in the vicinity of the vessel and is presumed deceased,” the sheriff’s office said in a release. “Additional searches of the area using an underwater remotely operated vehicle, have not located Michael at this time.”

At 2 p.m. Thursday, the Skamania County Dive Team located the fishing vessel 40 feet below the surface near the mouth of the White Salmon River. Efforts are ongoing to recover the boat.

The sheriff’s office said that the investigation has so far indicated the boat sank due to “rapidly deteriorating weather conditions” that became “treacherous” and deemed “a tragic accident.”

“The commercial guide boat capsized after taking a large wave over the stern,” the sheriff’s office said.

The above witness video was provided courtesy Sean Sullivan.

On Wednesday morning, seven total passengers on the boat were sent into the water. Six people were brought ashore by emergency responders and two of them were sent to the hospital. The last remaining passenger, later identified as Schufeldt, was never found.

Sean Sullivan witnessed the boat capsizing, called 911 and shared video of the incident with KOIN 6 News.

“We’ve been coming down fishing all summer, and it’s just a phenomenal spot for salmon,” Sullivan said. “Yesterday I came out about 11 [a.m.] with my youngest son to fish, and there was only about 4 or 5 boats on the water.”

Sullivan said within about 20 minutes, the conditions turned from calm to “trouble.” When he saw the small commercial boat capsize, he said he “knew there was really nothing I could do except get on the phone.”

Sullivan said even with the noises from the boat, the wind and being on the phone, he could still hear the people in the water “scream for help.”

“I take my boys plunging in here in the summer and, you know, so many activities. You would just not expect something like that to happen with the weather out here, it can turn so fast,” he said. “Now to know that it was tragic to that extent. It’s just, you know, it’s heartbreaking.”

Numerous agencies helped with the search and recovery effort so far, including the Columbia River Intertribal Fisheries Officers, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue and a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter. The Hood River Sheriff’s Office also used a plane in the search. Multiple civilian boaters also assisted.

Schufeldt’s family has asked for privacy during this tragic time, officials said.

The investigation into the incident and recovery efforts are ongoing.

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