FORKS – A Bremerton man died Thursday while fishing with friends in the Calawah River near Forks.
At around 12:45 p.m., Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the report of a fisherman who was reported to have fallen into the river and may be deceased. They met the reporting party at the Bogachiel River fish hatchery, who guided rescue personnel to a location along the Calawah River less than one mile upstream from where the Calawah flows into the Bogachiel River.
There they an unresponsive man laying on rocks near the river bank. After conducting C.P.R., rescuers used a stokes basket and ropes to lift the unresponsive man up the steep riverbank to a logging road, where he was transported by ambulance to the Forks Community Hospital. Hospital staff later pronounced him deceased.
The man was identified as 47-year-old Dennis De Leon of Bremerton, who had traveled to the Forks area with three of his friends to go fishing.
Mr. De Leon’s next of kin have been notified. The cause of death is currently under investigation by the Clallam County Coroner’s Office, who said foul play is not suspected at this time.