2 drownings on Russian River highlight deceptive peril of summer waterway

Two men drowned this past week in the Russian River, highlighting the perennial danger of the wild Sonoma County waterway that can draw thousands of daily visitors to its sunny shores this time of year.

The two men, who have not been identified, were found in Monte Rio near spots frequented by beachgoers. Many were drawn to the river this past week amid a punishing and prolonged heat wave that swept through the region.

“It’s just an unusual year,” Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said of the two drownings that occurred in such proximity, in time and location.

“It's sad,” he added. “We don't want to see it happen.”

The higher volume of summer visitors exposes many more people to the river this time of year. Its currents, depths and drop-offs can catch them by surprise.

The first man, described as in his 20s, went under the water Wednesday night after what witnesses said was a possible medical emergency around Patterson Point Reserve. A Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office dive team located the man about 2:20 p.m. Friday in the water, “exactly where he went in,” Baxman said.

The second man, who is believed to be in his 50s, was found in the river about 6:40 p.m. Saturday night. Firefighters performed lifesaving measures, including those used to help with cardiac arrest, for about 25 minutes before the man was pronounced dead.

Little to no information is known about what led to the second man’s drowning.

Each year, local fire and law enforcement agencies respond to the river, coast and lakes of the region for rescues and reported drownings. This year has been no exception.

Also on Friday, two people nearly drowned in Lake Berryessa in Napa County. They were flown to Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center to be treated for critical injuries. The near-drowning was the second one at the lake that the Napa County Sheriff’s Office responded to since Thursday.

On April 11, 14-year-old Justin Huang was reported missing in the Russian River north of Forestville. His body was recovered the next day.

In March, two bodies were found in the Russian River near Ukiah in Mendocino County.

On Feb. 26, the Sonoma County Fire District swift-water rescue unit pulled a woman, and two deputies she had pushed in with her, out of fast-moving water in the Russian River near Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville.

In 2023, five people drowned in Sonoma County. Two bodies were recovered in the Russian River, according to data provided in April by the Sonoma County Coroner.

Eight people drowned in the Russian River between 2019 and 2023.

Still, the deadly trend line is down from 2017, when eight people drowned in Sonoma County.

In fact, between 2013 and 2017, there were an average of eight drowning fatalities a year. But since then, the drowning deaths have averaged 5.5 a year, The Press Democrat reported earlier this year.

The coroner did not have data for 2024 due to ongoing investigations.

Nationally, drowning rates are on the rise, according to a report released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drowning remains the leading cause of death for kids 1-4 and the second cause of accidental death, behind vehicle collisions, for kids 5-14. It also disproportionately affects communities of color.

In Sonoma and Napa counties, where the rates are declining and stable, respectively, local officials have worked hard to make sure people are warned about the dangers and prepared when they enter the water.

Some of these efforts include water safety programs that teach young people how to swim, more lifeguard stations and a large amount of warning signs at local lakes, rivers and ocean beaches.

One of the programs include Sonoma County’s bilingual Vamos a Nadar, which specifically targets youth in underrepresented communities who may not have access to a pool or a trained swimming instructor.

This story includes reporting by Staff Writer Martin Espinoza. You can reach Staff Writer Madison Smalstig at madison.smalstig@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @madi.smals.