Derik Morganstern, 35, struggled with addiction and homelessness off and on since he was a teen, his sister Aly Morganstern said.
But he was “the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back,” she said.
Late on Aug. 11, he was at Salem’s Wallace Marine Park on the west bank of the Willamette River, where he lived, when he spotted a woman who had jumped from the nearby pedestrian bridge into the water.
Derik Morganstern immediately plunged into the river to reach the woman and was able to push her toward safety, Aly Morganstern said witnesses told her.
She made it to shore and was taken to the hospital, Salem police said in a statement.
But Derik Morganstern never made it out of the current, authorities said. Salem police and firefighters said they came to the scene within minutes of getting 911 calls, and firefighters searched the water by boat for 50 minutes starting at 11:10 p.m., according to Brian Carrara, a spokesperson for the Salem Fire Department.
Over 100 people from Salem’s homeless community searched the riverbanks for any sign of their friend. They also used boats and kayaks to scour the water.
Derik Morganstern’s body was recovered Friday by three volunteers from Oregon Rescue Divers who used sonar to scan underwater, said Devon Carroll, a diver who is part of the group but didn’t participate in the mission.
Aly Morganstern met the woman her brother rescued. “I gave her a big hug, and I told her I don’t blame her,” she said.
The woman said she knew she would be safe as soon as she spotted the word that was etched on Derik Morganstern’s shoulder, a nickname from his six nieces and nephews. He is also survived by seven of his own children.
In all caps, the tattoo spelled HERO.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available. Call or text 988 for 24-hour, confidential support, or visit 988lifeline.org.
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