Ochoco Reservoir drowning victim’s body recovered

(Update: More details of accident, background on victim)

Searchers on Monday recovered the body of a Prineville man who drowned at Ochoco Reservoir late Sunday afternoon after his canoe capsized. A fellow fisherman made it safely to shore.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue dive team, Crook County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and Oregon State Police recovered the body of search for Christopher Callahan, 36, around 10 a.m., Undersheriff James Savage said.

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office dive team also was en route to the scene, but was called off once Callahan was recovered, Savage said.

Callahan was found not far from where he last was seen, about 50 to 70 yards from shore, in water more than 40 feet deep, the undersheriff said.

“Ths is a sad conclusion to this incident,” Savage said in a news release. “We would like to remind those that enjoy our waters to please always wear your life jacket.”

The search for Callahan had begun immediately, first by citizens in a private boat, then an Oregon State Police boat, until called off due to darkness, sheriff’s Sgt. Ryan Seaney said.

“It’s a tragic situation,”Savage said Monday. “Neither one of them were wearing their life jacket when the boat went over. They both made some effort to get the boat back up, unsuccessfully.”

Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday to a call of two men whose canoe had flipped on the reservoir, located about seven miles east of Prineville, the sergeant said. Deputies en route were advised both men had become too tired to swim.

eputies arrived to find the other man, Nathannael Robedeau, 35, on shore, and a citizen trying to warm him up. Callahan had been seen going under the water’s surface and had not come up. Citizens in a private boat were searching but unable to locate him.

OSP dispatched a boat to help search for Callahan, but the search was suspended after nightfall. Seaney said the search resumed Monday morning, with more resources being brought in to help.

Investigators learned the two men were not wearing life vests when their canoe capsized, about 250 yards from shore, but put them on after falling in the water. They made several attempts to right the canoe, without success, Seaney said.

Both men began swimming toward shore. Seaney said witnesses said Callahan at first had his life jacket on but took it off while trying to make it to shore. They also said he appeared disoriented while swimming toward shore, which is often associated with hypothermia. He then submerged and did not resurface.

Robedeau was taken St. Charles Prineville by Crook County Fire and Rescue medics for treatment of hypothermia.

Savage said the water temperature at the time was only about 36 degrees — and Callahan quickly felt the effects of such cold water. It cools you down very quickly, he said, and it doesn’t take long before hypothermia sets in.

“Not long at all,” Savage said, “It’s 36 degrees, your core temperature drops very quickly.”

Callahan was the father of two young girls and worked at The Sandwich Factory in Prineville.

His co-workers said Monday that Callahan was one of the most selfless people they knew, and he loved to be outdoors, fishing and hunting for rocks with friends.

They said his was positive energy was infectious, and he was everybody’s friend.

Callahan also was in charge of making the clam chowder at The Sandwich Factory. Now the restaurant plans to name the clam chowder after Callahan, in his memory.