Authorities Recover Body of Man Who Drowned on Lower Rogue in September
Authorities have recovered the body of a man who drowned on the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River late last month.
On Monday afternoon, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was notified that a deceased male was located between Upper and Lower Washboard on the Lower Rogue.
Marine Deputy Wolf said the deceased male was later identified as 46-year-old David Bartecchi of Colorado who was the subject of a reported drowning at Wild Cat Rapids on September 28th.
Wolf said a local rafting outfitter, Orange Torpedo, volunteered their time and assisted the Sheriff's Office in recovering Bartecchi. The body was rafted about two miles downriver to Black Bar Lodge where lodge staff assisted. Hull & Hull Funeral Service brought the deceased back to Grants Pass.
Information provided to 9-1-1 Dispatch indicated a group of 11 people in five rafts were navigating the wild section of the river when one of the rafts got stuck in the middle of Wild Cat Rapids about five miles below Grave Creek Boat Ramp.
While trying to free the raft, Bartecchi slipped on a rock and fell into the water. Due to the swift and dangerous water, the victim was pushed into a large "strainer" made by two large rocks. Several people in the group attempted to pull him out, but they were unable to do so due to the pressure of the water.
Posted on 10/12/23 6:25AM by Sam Marsh
