Michael W. Dirks died attempting to save Nolan Ventura from drowning, Portland, Oregon, August 9, 1993. Ventura, 18, was tossing a football with friends in wadable water of the Columbia River when he stepped into deeper water and struggled to stay afloat. One of his friends attempted a rescue but returned to the bank. Dirks, 31, was walking along the bank. He removed his boots, entered the river, and swum to Ventura, who greatly outweighed him. A struggle ensued, and both submerged and did not re-surface. Dirks’ body was shortly recovered from the river, and Ventura’s was found three days later. Both had drowned. 68063-7851
68063 – 7851
68063-7851