Summary:
- One person is confirmed dead and two others are missing after being swept over Dillon Falls on Oregon’s Deschutes River.
- Three were rescued and taken to a hospital, prompting a major emergency response.
- The group entered upstream and was carried over the hazardous whitewater just before 3 p.m.
- Dillon Falls is known for dangerous rapids and is marked with hazard warnings.
- Search efforts used aerial units and emergency personnel but were paused at sunset.
- The sheriff’s office is investigating and emphasizes public caution around river conditions.
One person is confirmed dead and two others remain missing after a group of six individuals were swept over Dillon Falls on Oregon’s Deschutes River Saturday afternoon. The other three were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital, prompting a large-scale emergency response in the area southwest of Bend.
The incident occurred shortly before 3 p.m., according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, which received an emergency call at 2:57 p.m. Authorities say the group had entered the river upstream before being carried over the falls, a notoriously hazardous stretch of fast-moving whitewater.
Dillon Falls, located west of Bend, is a popular but perilous section of the river marked by steep drops and turbulent rapids. While commonly used by experienced kayakers and rafters, the area is clearly marked with signage warning of dangerous conditions downstream.
By the time emergency crews arrived, one member of the group had already died at the scene. Three others were pulled from the water alive and transported to St. Charles Bend hospital for treatment. Their current conditions have not been publicly disclosed.
Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched for the two still unaccounted-for individuals, involving teams from the sheriff’s office, Bend Fire & Rescue, and technical rescue personnel. Aerial units from AirLink and unmanned drones operated by Bend Police assisted in the search from above.
“Response teams conducted an extensive bank and air search throughout the afternoon,” said a spokesperson for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. “Due to river conditions and visibility, operations were suspended at sunset but are expected to resume Sunday morning.”
As of Saturday evening, officials were withholding the names of those involved pending notification of family members.
The Deschutes River, while drawing many outdoor enthusiasts during the summer months, contains segments that pose significant risks. Dillon Falls in particular has been the site of previous rescues, with swift currents and submerged hazards making recovery efforts difficult.
Authorities have urged the public to exercise heightened caution when navigating the river and to heed all posted warnings and safety advisories. The sheriff’s office emphasized that the incident remains under active investigation, with river conditions and group activity both being evaluated as part of the inquiry.
Background:
Here is how this event developed over time:
- July 19, 2025, at 2:57 p.m. — Emergency services received a 911 call reporting that six individuals had gone over Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River near Bend, Oregon.
- July 19, 2025 — Multiple agencies, including the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Fire & Rescue, Bend Police (drone support), and AirLink (aerial assistance), responded to the scene for a coordinated search and rescue effort.
- July 19, 2025 — Three individuals were rescued from the river and transported to St. Charles Bend hospital for medical treatment.
- July 19, 2025 — One person was confirmed dead at the scene, while two others remained missing as of Saturday evening.
- July 19, 2025 — Search operations were suspended at sunset due to darkness, with plans to resume on Sunday morning if necessary.
- As of July 20, 2025 — The names of the victims had not been released pending notification of next of kin.