Man dies saving woman from drowning in river

SALEM Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - A family is grieving the loss of a man who saved a woman from drowning in a river in Oregon.

“From talking to him every day to going to not talking to him. And him not reaching out to the kids, it’s not like him,” Cori Engstrom said.

Her brother, 35-year-old Derik Morganstern, died while saving a woman who was struggling to swim in the Willamette River.

Police said the woman had reportedly jumped into the river from a pedestrian bridge at about 11 p.m. on Aug. 12. Witnesses said Derik Morganstern got into the river to save her.

Another one of his sisters, Alaina Morganstern, said she spoke to the woman afterward.

“She got into the water and he yelled, ‘Are you OK?’ She said ‘Yes, leave me alone,’” Alaina Morganstern recounted. “He said, ‘Nope.’ And he ran into that river.”

Alaina Morganstern said Derik Morganstern told his dog to stay on the shore and took everything out of his pockets before swimming to her.

The woman was able to safely make it to shore because of his heroic efforts.

But the current was strong, and Alaina Morganstern said the woman told her he knew he was in trouble.

“She said in that moment he made a choice,” Alaina Morganstern said. “He pushed her enough out of the current that she could get to shore and he said, ‘It’s OK. It’s my time.’”

Salem Police searched for Derik Morganstern for days. His body was found on the fourth day of the search by a volunteer group dive team.

Alaina Morganstern shared her gratitude for the dive team.

“They had just gotten back from a water recovery, they contacted us and within 24 hours, they were here,” she said.

Alaina Morganstern said the homeless community in the area was also “instrumental” in finding her brother.

The name of the woman who was rescued has not been released. She was hospitalized following the rescue.

Alaina Morganstern said the woman had told her she jumped because “she just didn’t have anything else.”

Alaina Morganstern said the family is in touch with her and said she is getting the help she needs.

Now, the family is honoring Derik Morganstern’s memory. They said he was a family man who would help anyone in need.

“His nieces, nephews, all of the kids just in general, would light up when they saw him,” Alaina Morganstern said. “He chose to make sure that everyone was safe before he even tried to get out.”

The family also said Derik Morganstern’s dog is OK.

They plan to hold a celebration of life for Morganstern next to the river on Saturday afternoon.

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Editor’s note: This story included a mention of suicide. Anyone who is experiencing a mental health crisis can reach the U.S. suicide and crisis lifeline by calling or texting 988.

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