On Thursday, February 2 at approximately 12:46 p.m. Deputies from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Forks Detachment were dispatched to the report of a fisherman on the Calawah River who was reported to have fallen into the river and may be deceased. Deputies and emergency personnel responded to the Bogachiel River Fish Hatchery where the reporting party was contacted.

The reporting party guided rescue personnel to a location along the Calawah River located less than one mile upstream from where the Calawah River flows into the Bogachiel River, just upstream from the Bogachiel River Fish Hatchery.

Rescue personnel located an unresponsive man who was in the Calawah River, laying on rocks near the river bank.

Rescue personnel conducted C.P.R. on the unresponsive man. Rescue personnel used a stokes basket and ropes to lift the man up the steep riverbank to a logging road, where he was transported by ambulance to the Forks Community Hospital.

Hospital Medical staff at the Forks Community Hospital continued lifesaving efforts in an attempt to revive the man who was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.

The deceased man was identified as 47-year-old Dennis De Leon of Bremerton. Mr. De Leon had traveled to the Forks area with three of his friends to go fishing.

Responding Rescue personnel were from the following agencies, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Forks Police Department, Lapush Police Department, Lapush Fish and Wildlife, Forks District #1 Fire Department, Quillayute Prairie District #6 Fire Department, Washington State Fish and Game Department and Forks Ambulance personnel.

The cause of death is currently under investigation by the Clallam County Coroner’s Office. Mr. De Leon’s next of kin have been notified. At this time foul play is not suspected.