The tragic drowning occurred on Saturday evening when renowned chef Naomi Pomeroy, 49, was tubing with her husband Kyle Linden Webster, and a friend on the Willamette River near Portland, Oregon. The trio were on connected tubes and a paddle board when they got caught on an exposed snag that pulled Pomeroy underwater. She was then held beneath the surface by the leash attached to the paddle board.
Firefighters initially arrived at the scene with a boat, but could not locate Pomeroy’s body despite being only 100 yards upstream from Mary’s River. Her husband and friend were rescued at the shore and taken to a nearby boat launch.
Naomi Pomeroy first gained prominence in the Portland food scene when she opened her beloved farm-to-table restaurant, Beast, back in 2007. She is best known for her appearance on Bravo’s cooking show “Top Chef Masters,” and winning the prestigious James Beard Award in 2014, which recognized her successful restaurant that has since closed down.
Pomeroy’s body was finally retrieved by authorities on Wednesday morning after being spotted by canoers. The tragic incident had led to an extensive search effort from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, utilizing sonar, underwater cameras, and drones in hopes of finding her amidst heavy debris in the river.
Her body was transported to a local funeral home, and her family was informed of the heartbreaking news. The sudden loss of Pomeroy has left a profound impact on the culinary world, with many mourning the untimely passing of such an acclaimed chef.
