Derek Slesinger Obituary, Death; – The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the identity of the third individual who lost their life in a tubing accident at Dillon Falls in July.

Derek Slesinger, aged 33, from Newark, Delaware, passed away on July 19 when he and three companions went over Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River, located upstream from Bend. The other two deceased individuals were Amanda Loyd, 40, from Rockwall, Texas, and Lindsay Bashan, 33, from Parkland, Florida. Three other members of their group successfully swam to safety above the rapids.

During the search and rescue operations, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office refrained from disclosing the name of the missing tourist at the request of his family. The group of six had connected their inner tubes to form a makeshift raft and floated down a tranquil section of the Deschutes River prior to reaching the falls.

They overlooked the signs along the shore that warned of the impending rapids. Slesinger’s remains were discovered at Lava Island Falls on August 27 by kayakers who were visiting the island to take photographs and explore that area of the Deschutes River. Lava Island Falls is situated approximately three miles downstream from the base of Dillon Falls.

“Slesinger was recovered in swift waters, and the circumstances surrounding how he came to be at Lava Island Falls will remain uncertain,” stated Jason Carr, a public information officer with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, on Thursday. Deschutes County Search and Rescue dedicated weeks to searching for Slesinger, primarily around Dillon Falls, which is a stretch of waterfalls and rapids extending about a quarter mile.

Approximately 60 individual volunteers, along with five marine deputies and five full-time staff members, were deployed to the Dillon Falls area during the search and rescue operation. Over 2,300 man-hours were invested in the search for the body.

In a statement released by the sheriff’s office, Slesinger’s mother, Diana Adames, expressed her gratitude to those who participated in the search and rescue efforts. “I spent numerous days on the river and was treated with immense respect and kindness by the search and rescue teams,” Adames remarked. “They exceeded expectations, dedicating more time than anyone could imagine.