Whatcom County man drowns while fishing in the Nooksack River near Everson
A Whatcom County man was found drowned in the Nooksack River south of Everson after his family reported he was late returning from fishing on a boat Wednesday evening.
The man was identified as Jeffrey George Sr., 56 of Everson, according to Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater, who added that George’s family became concerned after he didn’t return from fishing for more than an hour.
Sheriff’s deputies and crews from Whatcom County Fire District 1 responded at 5:45 p.m. Sept. 9 to the report that a man was in the river near the 6400 block of George Road, Slater said.
They arrived to find George floating face down in the river with his boat nearby, according to Slater.
CPR was administered, but George was pronounced dead at the scene, Slater reported.
Whatcom County Medical Examiner Dr. Gary Goldfogel said he believes George may have had a medical emergency while in the water that may have played a role in his death.
“We have had a couple of (water) rescues in that area the last few years,” District 1 Fire Chief Mel Blankers told The Herald. “I’m not overly familiar with that channel of the river, but we have been called out a few times.”
This story was originally published September 11, 2020 at 11:45 AM.
