UPDATE: October 21 at 11:49 a.m.

The Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office shared a final update regarding Jostin Montes, the kayaker who was found dead after calling 911 for help from the Columbia River.

WWCSO said it was determined the cause of death was accidental drowning.

" We are heartbroken to report this incident and do not want our community or another family to endure this hurt," WWCSO wrote.

The sheriff's office also emphasized the importance of wearing life jackets, which is required for anyone operating paddle crafts—such as canoes, kayaks and rafts—under state law.

" Please let this tragic loss of life serve as a stark reminder that life jackets save lives! Avoiding situations like this is exactly why we issue tickets when we encounter boaters without them," WWCSO said

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