‘Top Chef Masters’ star Naomi Pomeroy, 49, killed in freak river tubing accident in Oregon

nypost.com:

statement Tuesday.The beloved chef was then pulled under the water and became trapped by a paddle board leash attached to her, causing her to drown, officials said.

The trio had reportedly tied their inner tubes and paddle board together before the incident.The Corvallis Fire Department has yet to recover Pomeroy’s body while Webster and the third individual were rescued on the shoreline — around 60 miles outside Portland.“I am dedicated to locating Naomi to bring her home to her family and loved ones,” Sheriff Van Arsdall said.

Rescue personnel have combed parts of the 187-mile river using sonar, underwater cameras, and drones, but heavy debris has made the search a struggle, officials said.Pomeroy became a figurehead in the Portland culinary scene after opening the beloved farm-to-table restaurant Beast in 2007, according to The Oregonian.Pomeroy won the coveted James Beard Award, given to the Best Chef in the Northwest, in 2014 following the success of her hit restaurant.

The self-taught chef closed Beast in May 2020 but rebranded the location as Ripe Cooperative soon after. However, due to the rising costs of running the restaurant, she was forced to close it in October 2022, the outlet reported.Pomeroy is best known for her appearance on Bravo’s cooking show “Top Chef Masters” in 2011.The renowned chef finished fourth in the show’s third season, which awarded Pomeroy $26,800.She later appeared on “Top Chef” as a guest judge and guest diner.In recent years, Pomeroy co-owned the Portland cocktail bar Expatriate with her husband.