The body of Naomi Pomeroy, who appeared on "Top Chef Masters," was found in an Oregon river after she drowned during a tubing accident, law enforcement officials said.
The Benton County Sheriff's Office said Pomeroy, 49, drowned Saturday evening in the Willamette River.
"An investigation by BCSO determined three floaters on tubes and a paddle board, secured together, were caught on an exposed snag in the water. One of the floaters, Naomi, was pulled under the water and held by the paddle board leash," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
Personnel from the Corvallis Fire Department rescued two other adults, including Pomeroy's husband, Kyle Linden Webster, but were unable to find the Oregon-based chef.
The officials "searched the area using all available tools, including sonar, underwater cameras, and drones, but were unable to locate any signs of Naomi in the area due to heavy debris," the sheriff's office said.
Then on Wednesday morning, people canoeing on the river called 911 to report seeing a body in the water.
"BCSO marine deputies arrived shortly after, located a deceased female on a shallow section of bedrock near the middle of the river with about one to two feet of water," the sheriff's office said.
Pomeroy came in fourth place on the third season of "Top Chef Masters" in 2011 and appeared as a judge on "Top Chef."
"The Bravo and Top Chef family send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Chef Naomi Pomeroy," Bravo said in a statement. "Naomi was a powerhouse chef who made an indelible mark on the culinary industry."
Pomeroy received the James Beard Award for Best Chef Pacific Northwest in 2014.
