18-year-old drowning victim recovered from Willamette River in Salem

This story was updated at 5:30 p.m. 

After a nearly 20-hour search, crews recovered the body of an 18-year-old man who drowned in the Willamette River near Salem's Riverfront Park. 

Troy Bowdish, of Dallas, was found just after 2:30 p.m. Thursday by divers from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, according to Sgt. Jeremy Landers, a spokesperson with the Marion County Sheriff's office. 

Police and fire officials initially responded to a water rescue call at 7:11 p.m. Wednesday in the Willamette Slough near the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge, according to Lt. Treven Upkes, a spokesperson with the Salem Police Department. 

Officials said Bowdish was swimming with some friends by jetties near the bridge when he went under. 

Salem police and fire department responded to the scene and began an initial search for the missing swimmer. Marion County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue was also called to help with search efforts. 

The rescue switched to a recovery operation later in the evening and the 's parents were notified. Crews halted the search just before 10 p.m. once it became dark.

The recovery operations resumed around 6 a.m. Thursday.

The operation included six watercraft, divers, a UAV, and over 25 personnel from multiple agencies, Landers said. Salem Police Department, Salem Fire Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and FALK Ambulance were involved in the search.

Officials are encouraging the public to use life jackets when swimming in lakes, rivers and other open waterways to help prevent accidental drownings.

Virginia Barreda is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.