Last photograph of man who died in Oregon drowning accident (From Swindon Advertiser)

Last photograph of man who died in Oregon drowning accident

1:20pm Tuesday 6th January 2009

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THIS is the last picture taken of Peter Bridgeman 10 minutes before the Swindon man died in a whirlpool accident this summer.

An American witness who tried to help save Peter has come forward after capturing this dramatic image just 30ft from his impending death in an apparently tranquil setting bathed in glorious sunshine.

Mum-of-two Deborah White, 49, was at the White River Falls State Park in Oregon, when the terrifying incident unfolded before her eyes on July 24.

She took the snap of the rocky beauty spot not realising she had taken the last picture of Peter alive.

The economics teacher from Wisconsin saw 41-year-old Peter, formally of Eastcott Hill in Old Town, get into difficulty after jumping into a river.

He become trapped before being spun around by the strong current and dragged underwater to the bottom.

Peter’s body was found 1,500 yards downstream 15 minutes later. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at about 5.40pm.

Deborah said her brother-in-law had Googled the incident months later and discovered the story the Adver had posted on our website after Peter’s inquest.

“We were not getting any signs of a person being in the whirlpool and our guys were getting very tired from fighting the current and probing – it had become very dangerous,” said Deborah, who was with friends and family at the time of the accident.

“We sent two of our men down stream about 50 yards around a bend in the river, to see if the whirlpool had already spun the gentleman out.

“Two of our guys located Mr Bridgeman in about three feet of water where the current slows down.

“They immediately got him up on the bank and started CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscita-tion).

“Not knowing this, several of us stayed at the whirlpool just in case he was still in there, as the rest of the party started making their way over the rough path to the slower moving water around the bend of the river.

“After about 30 minutes, part of our group signalled to the rest of us that they had found Mr Bridgeman.

“The rest of our group of 15 made our way to assist.

“By this time, a local deputy was assisting with the CPR. There were four men taking turns giving it.

“Finally, authorities requested that all CPR stop and called a time of death.

“This was a very emotional time for our group, nobody wanted to quit.”

Peter’s inquest at the Civic Offices in October heard he died as a result of asphyxiation by drowning.

Deborah said she couldn’t send any condolences or flowers or attend his funeral because she didn’t know his name.

“The authorities withheld his name pending notification of next of kin,” she said.

“So we kept searching the Portland and Oregon obituaries hoping some kind of notice would appear.

“I hope his family knows there were many prayers said for him and the people who put their own lives in danger looking for him, would do so in an instant.

“This group has great compassion for human lives and have been blessed with loving families and friends.

“I know that his family had lots of questions, so many that his sister Anne travelled to the falls to see where he died. But sometimes when we go in search of answers, we only come away with more questions.”

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