A 41-year-old man drowned in the Lower Rogue River at the Lobster Creek area Sunday, the second drowning there this month and the third of the season in the area, according to the Curry County Sheriff's Office.
None of the three were wearing life jackets, according to federal officials.
On July 14, the body of Adam Birdsell of Medford was recovered at the Lobster Creek gravel bar area. Birdsell had apparently been swimming when he went underwater for about four to six minutes, according to the Curry County Sheriff's Office. A Sheriff Marine Boat of Linn County on the way down the river from training arrived on scene less than two minutes after the drowning.
Two marine deputies located Birdsell submerged in about six feet of water. They pulled him out of the water and started CPR. Cal-Ore Life Flight continued life saving efforts before transporting him to Curry General Hospital. Birdsell was pronounced dead by medical staff.
On July 4, in the same location, officials recovered the body of 42-year-old Rohithumar Godhani of Milipitas, California. The Curry County Sheriff's Office responded to a series of several calls regarding a drowning from the Lobster Creek area on the Rogue River.
Police said Godhani was recreating with his family when he entered the water for unknown reasons. Responders found Godhani an hour later in six feet of water about 100 yards down river from where he went in. Reach Air arrived on scene and continued life saving efforts but he was pronounced dead.
On June 22, 66-year-old Mary Kohn of Powers drowned after being knocked out of her raft at the Two-Mile Rapids on the Rogue River. According to the Marine Sergeant, there were life vests aboard but were not worn by anyone in the group.
Emma Logan is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached atelogan@salem.gannett.com or on X @emmmalogan
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