By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
July 30, 2007

Janet Ann Nelson, 53, of Hood River, died Thursday at 12:11 p.m. after being pulled from the Columbia River near Rock Creek in Mosier.

Wasco County Sheriff’s Deputy Neil Price confirmed that Nelson was found face down in the water with her windsurfing board floating nearby.

Price said Friday that Nelson’s death is being investigated as a drowning. He would not confirm if Nelson was dead at the scene. He did say she was found unresponsive and unconscious.

According to the 9-1-1 log, her windsurfing gear washed up along the shore, which led to the initial missing person’s report. Another windsurfer discovered Nelson’s body and reported it to 9-1-1.

Mosier First Responders and Hood River Fire Department responded to the call at 11:11 a.m. Hood River’s ambulance transported Nelson to Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.

“Bystanders were doing CPR on her before our crews arrived,” said Fire Chief Jeff Walker.

Wasco County contracts with the city of Hood River to provide fire and ambulance services for the town of Mosier.