Body recovered in drowning at Warehouse Beach
By Griffin Beach on Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
UMATILLA – Searchers recovered the body of a 20-year-old male on Monday who drowned while swimming in the Columbia River at Warehouse Beach near Umatilla.
In a release the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) said Luis Adrian Oropeza Perez was attempting to swim from the cliffs adjacent to the swimming area to a nearby island. Near the mid-point between the cliffs and island Perez struggled and ultimately drowned. Friends and others in the area attempted to assist without success.
Umatilla Rural Fire, United States Army Corps of Engineers and UCSO responded to the initial call at 7:46 p.m. The initial search was suspended after a possible sonar location was established, and darkness prevented further efforts.
The search was resumed at 8 a.m. Monday morning with Oregon State Police and Benton County (WA) Sheriff’s Office joining the efforts. The initial search location proved negative and further sonar location was made and new possible location was established. Columbia Basin Dive Rescue joined the efforts and dove at the location, at 3:45 p.m. Perez’s body was recovered.
No hometown for Perez was listed in the release.
Umatilla Police Department, Hermiston Police Department, and Irrigon Fire Department also assisted.
