Portland man has been missing since Saturday
WASHOUGAL — The search for a missing Portland man who had been rafting on the Washougal River has been suspended according to a Monday news release from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
The 30-year-old Stephen Barnaby has been missing since Saturday, when deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 38700 block of NE Washougal River Road (milepost 7.5) for a female screaming for help.
Arriving deputies found a female submerged in the Washougal River up to her neck in the water. The 28-year-old female, later identified as Emily McCauley of Portland, was pinned by her legs in the rapid moving water. After nearly two hours of rescue operations, the female was removed from the water in an unconscious state and transported to an area hospital. After receiving medical treatment, the female resumed consciousness and provided information to law enforcement.
On Sunday, at approximately 5 a.m., McCauley informed others that she was with Barnaby in the water the evening before. Deputies learned that the male and female intended on floating the “big eddy” at mile post 8 of the Washougal River Road. While they floated on separate inner-tubes, the two were swept into the fast moving current of the water. Both subsequently fell off their respected inner-tubes, at which time McCauley became entrapped within some debris and rocks below the water. The female recalled seeing the male floating by her when she became entrapped.
On Sunday, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Region 4 Technical Rescue Team conducted a search for Barnaby. This search consisted of flying multiple unmanned aircraft, ground searchers from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Region 4 Technical Rescue Team. Additionally, underwater cameras were used by the Technical Rescue Team.
Barnaby remains missing at this time and the search has been suspended.
On Sunday, deputies on scene located an associated vehicle, the empty raft and other personal items belonging to Burnaby.
Information provided by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
