11/01/2026
Kayak Angler’s Tragic Death Teaches Crucial Lesson About Inflatable Life Jackets | Authorities recovered the body of a kayaker who had gone missing while fishing in the Columbia River near Hood River, Oregon. While the angler was wearing an inflatable life jacket, authorities say a missing piece “rendered it ineffective.”
82-year-old David Kalousdian’s obituary reads: “David Kalousdian passed away on October 1, 2026 doing what he loved—fishing the Columbia River.”
Community members and loved ones describe Kalousdian as an active and adventurous person who was especially fit for his age. The day of his death, Kalousdian launched his kayak from the Hood River Marina to spend a solo afternoon out on the river fishing. Under an hour later, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls about an empty kayak adrift near the end of a sandbar. The kayak’s motor was still running.
While the search began immediately, authorities did not find Kalousdian’s body until five days later. It is not clear how he ended up in the water and became separated from his kayak. Sgt. Eric Wahler with the sheriff’s office suggests Kalousdian could have lost his balance while reaching behind himself for a fishing pole. “It’s just a possibility,” Wahler told a local news outlet.
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✍️: Sophia Lauber
đź“·: Julia Clooten, Pexels
