The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday identified two people who died in a fatal waterfall accident as search operations continued for the one person who remains missing.
This photo provided by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office shows search and rescue teams and a sign indicating a hazardous waterfall ahead along the Deschutes River about 10 miles from Bend, Ore., after a fatal waterfall accident Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Courtesy of Deschutes County Sheriff's Office / AP
The victims include Amanda Lloyd, 40, of Rockwall, Texas; and Lindsay Bashan, 33, of Parkland, Florida. The sheriff’s office noted in a statement that Lloyd’s birthday was July 16, three days before the accident.
A group including Lloyd and Bashan missed a takeout area on the Deschutes River and was swept over Dillon Falls on Saturday. Authorities describe it as a dangerous section of the river, featuring 15-foot falls and Class 5 whitewater rapids obstructed by rocks, logs and other debris.
The six people were floating on inner tubes tied together, the sheriff’s office said. The three people who survived jumped from their inner tubes and made it to shore, while the other three were swept into the rapids.
One person died at the scene while a second body was found Monday.
Teams were searching for the one person still missing on Tuesday, authorities said. A diver was surveying the area from a plane, while a separate aircraft assisted with specialized search cameras. Search dogs were also at the scene.
The sheriff’s office praised those involved in search operations during the “difficult and emotional incident.”
“They have led a coordinated and effective mission under very challenging conditions, and their work has already helped bring answers and closure to two grieving families,” spokesperson Jason Carr said in a statement.
Carr has previously said that the missing were presumed dead due to the unlikelihood of surviving the falls.
People recreating on that area of the river normally exit at the Dillon Falls day use area, as the waterfall is just around the bend, Carr said. Signs along the river warn of the hazardous waterfall ahead.
The three people rescued had minor wounds such as scrapes and bruises and were able to exit the rescue boat on their own. They were transported to a local hospital to ensure they had no other injuries, Carr said.
The names of the three survivors are being withheld to respect their privacy, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Deschutes River, which runs through Bend, is popular during the summer for various water activities, including rafting, inner tube floating, kayaking and paddleboarding.
