Man dies from injuries sustained in a boating accident

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office reports a man seriously injured in a boating accident on the McKay Reservoir Friday evening died later at St. Anthony Hospital. UCSO reports that Benjamin Ryan Camden, 41, of Milton-Freewater had been tubing with a group of people in a boat.

Camden was attempting to get back into the boat when the transom ladder broke. He was not able to pull himself onto the boat. UCSO Marine Division reports that it was decided he would hold onto the starboard handrail while the boat operator headed toward a boat ramp.

“While slowly motoring toward the boat ramp, Benjamin lost his grip and slid under the boat,” UCSO reported. “He sustained serious injuries to his lower left leg by propeller cuts.”

Boaters nearby loaded him into a private vehicle which met up with medics near the entrance to the reservoir. He was taken to St. Anthony Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. UCSO expressed condolences to his family and other loved ones.

His wife, SaraJane Camden, contacted Elkhorn Media Group. She said they were at the reservoir to celebrate her son’s birthday.

“”They were so far out no one could hear or see what was going on,” she wrote. “My son couldn’t wait. He started to swim Ben in. One of the guys on the boat was waving his hands. My daughter noticed, grabbed a canoe and started her way out. She held onto Ben’s hands while my son swam my husband, the canoe and her across 700 yards to the shore.”

Mrs. Camden said he lost so much blood and almost all of his lower left leg that he bled out and the hospital couldn’t give him enough fluids. “(He was) pronounced dead at 7:19 p.m.,” she wrote. “Dad to five kids, five grandbabies, 41 years old.”