The Jackson County Sheriff’s office responded to the report of fishing gear and debris floating down the Rogue River from above the confluence with Bear Creek.

Deputies began a search with a power boat and raft and quickly recovered more debris and a sunken boat about a half mile upstream from the mouth of Bear Creek.

The investigation revealed three men, Mark Orsenkranz, 58, Dennis Jarvi, 63, and Walter Sokolowski, 62, swam across the river after their 16 foot drift boat flipped after hitting a rapid and striking a tree.

The three climbed out on a sandbar and began walking back to their vehicle. All were safe and uninjured, just wet and cold.