Renowned ‘Top Chef Masters’ star Naomi Pomeroy dead from tubing accident

Award-winning cook Naomi Pomeroy, who starred on Top Chef Masters, has died astatine property 49 from a stream tubing accident.

Pomeroy drowned Saturday evening successful nan Willamette River successful Oregon, nan Benton County Sheriff’s Office said. Her assemblage was recovered days later successful nan stream by group paddling successful a canoe.

Portland restaurateurs are grieving nan nonaccomplishment of nan renowned chef, who helped put nan metropolis connected nan representation arsenic a culinary destination.

According to police, Pomeroy and 2 others were floating down nan Willamette River successful a fashioned raft of sorts, made of soul tubes and a paddle-board tied together. They deed an obstacle connected nan stream and Pomeroy was “pulled nether nan h2o and held by nan paddle committee leash.”

The Corvallis Fire Department were nan first emergency responders connected nan segment but they were “unable to retrieve Naomi,” constabulary wrote successful their statement. The 2 different group progressive were recovered connected nan statement and transported to a vessel launch.

Pomeroy’s hubby Kyle Linden Webster gave much specifications connected nan fatal mishap to the New York Times. He said he, Pomeroy and a friend were floating successful 2 soul tubes and a paddle-board secured together erstwhile they deed a partially submerged branch.

All 3 of them were thrown into nan h2o but Webster and nan friend were capable to make it to shore. When rescuers arrived, they were incapable to retrieve Pomeroy’s assemblage owed to nan beardown currents, nan Times reported.

After nan Corvallis Fire Department responded to nan scene, officers from nan Benton County Sheriff’s Office arrived and “quickly began searching downriver from nan incident site,” constabulary said. Authorities utilized sonar, underwater cameras and drones, but were incapable to find Pomeroy “due to dense debris.”

Authorities searched for Pomeroy’s assemblage for days pinch nary motion of her until group successful a canoe recovered her remains while paddling connected nan stream connected Wednesday.

Benton deputies responded to nan area and recovered Pomeroy’s assemblage connected a shallow conception of bedrock successful nan mediate of nan stream successful astir 1 to 2 feet of water.

The sheriff’s agency is informing group not to connect themselves to a paddle-board unless it has a quick-release leash, and advised against tying 2 aliases much soul tubes together, arsenic doing truthful intends each personification should person a life-jacket.

The Oregon State Marine Board noted location has been an “emerging trend” successful caller years of group dying owed to nan leash connected their stand-up paddle-board (SUP) getting tangled successful brushwood aliases different debris successful rivers.

“Most ankle leashes utilized by SUP users are not designed for speedy release,” Brian Paulsen, nan agency’s boating information programme manager, said successful a connection Tuesday. He said quick-release leashes, designed for moving water, are worn astir nan waist.

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Pomeroy roseate to prominence successful nan Portland nutrient segment aft opening nan edifice Beast successful 2007.

The edifice paved nan measurement for Pomeroy to triumph a coveted James Beard grant for champion cook successful nan northwest successful 2014, astir nan aforesaid clip Portland was soaring successful fame arsenic a recreation destination for its nutrient scene, earthy beauty and quirky reputation. The edifice closed during nan coronavirus pandemic, but Pomeroy had conscionable precocious opened a caller stiff custard shop.

Pomeroy was besides known for her quality connected cooking shows, including Top Chef Masters, and owned nan Portland cocktail barroom Expatriate pinch her husband. The barroom was closed Monday, KOIN reported, as mourners near flowers and remembrances stacked extracurricular nan business.

Heather Wallberg, who owns a edifice crossed from Expatriate and has worked successful nan manufacture for complete a decade, told KOIN that Pomeroy “made nan Portland nutrient segment what it is today.” She said she reached retired to Expatriate to connection immoderate thief they need.

Pomeroy’s abrupt decease “reminds you of nan fragility of life,” she said.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer from Oregon issued a statement describing Pomeroy’s decease arsenic a tragic loss.

“Naomi was not conscionable a fabulous cook and entrepreneur, but an astonishing quality being,” Blumenauer said. “Her effect went acold beyond Portland, helping found our activity and estimation for nutrient excellence. She will beryllium greatly missed.”

— pinch files from The Associated Press