PORTLAND, Ore. — A 16-year-old drowned Wednesday night in the Columbia River at Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park in Washington.

Witnesses told authorities the teen was swimming toward a nearby “wing dam,” a man-made barrier to modify river flow, when he went underwater and did not resurface about 20 yards from shore, according to Clark County Fire District 6.

Several law enforcement agencies responded despite being stretched thin by a two-alarm fire happening at the same time. The U.S. Coast Guard also assisted. In all, four boats, seven rescue swimmers and a helicopter were deployed in the search.

By 9 p.m., the effort shifted from a rescue to a recovery operation, the fire district said.

Vancouver police confirmed to KGW that the teen's body was recovered Thursday. His identity will be

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