June 12, 2025 3:00 p.m. 

A Myrtle Creek man drowned in the South Umpqua River in the Tiller area on Sunday.

A Douglas County Sheriff’s Office report released on Thursday, said just before 4:00 p.m. 44-year-old Jesse Vermillion and a female took their three children, including their 11-year-old daughter, to the Three C Rock Campground to hang out and swim.

It was reported that the juvenile was in the water and began struggling to swim, before going underwater. Vermillion was reported to have jumped in to save her. Upon reaching the girl, he was able to pass her off to another bystander that had also swam out to assist. The bystander got the juvenile to shore where she was ultimately placed in the care of EMS upon their arrival.

Bystanders said Vermillion began struggling in the water after passing off the girl and began to grow weaker before going under the water. He was pulled from the water by others and was unconscious at that time. CPR was performed on Vermillion for several minutes, before, during and after transport to CHI Mercy Medical Center. Jesse Vermilion was ultimately pronounced deceased after his arrival at Mercy.

No further information has been released by DCSO.