A man was transported to Oregon Health and Science University Hospital Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 2, after suffering a serious leg injury while jumping into the Willamette River at Roehr Park in Lake Oswego.

According to Lake Oswego Fire Marshal Gert Zoutendijk, the man was injured around 3:30 p.m. after jumping from the upper portion of the park that is colloquially referred to as "The Dolphins."

"The dock that is right there in the river is held on with a metal I-beam that was not showing because it was underwater," Zoutendijk said. "He hit that with his leg."

The man's friend pulled him out of the water and onto the dock before calling 911. Initially, according to Zoutendijk, fire officials were not aware that the man had been pulled out of the water. Believing that the person might still be in the river, the fire department activated the Clackamas County Water Rescue Consortium, which includes first responders from a number of neighboring jurisdictions.

"It was a big response initially because we assumed he was still in the water, and you never know if something more tragic can happen," Zoutendijk said. "We canceled (the consortium) when we found out he was on the dock. Then it became a medical emergency."

Ultimately, Zoutendijk said it was fortunate that the man didn't suffer worse injuries — and he strongly urged people to avoid jumping into the river from that location.

"It has signs all over, and we try to enforce it as much as we can with the police department, the park ranger," he said. "But it's notorious for people, kids primarily, to jump off 'The Dolphins.'"

Jumping or diving from the park or the Dolphin is not allowed to prevent incidents like this. #wearalifejacket #watersafety #obaytherules

— Lake Oswego Fire (@LakeOswegoFire) August 3, 2022