Authorities recover body of “Top Chef Masters” star Naomi Pomeroy after drowning in Oregon river

The body of “Top Chef Masters” star Naomi Pomeroy was recovered Wednesday, four days after she drowned while tubing with her husband and a friend on an Oregon river.

The renowned 49-year-old chef was on the Willamette River near Portland on Saturday evening when she became trapped underwater during her recreational activity.

Her body was recovered by authorities Wednesday morning after it was discovered by canoeists, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said.

The tragic drowning occurred when Pomeroy, her husband Kyle Linden Webster and the friend were traveling on connected tubes and a paddleboard but became snagged on an “exposed obstruction” that pulled the chef underwater.

She was then held under the surface with the paddleboard line, the sheriff’s office said.

Firefighters initially arrived at the scene of the accident by boat, 100 metres upstream from the Mary’s River, but were unable to find Pomeroy’s body.

Her husband and boyfriend were rescued on shore and taken to a boat ramp.

According to The Oregonian, Pomeroy became known in Portland’s dining scene when she opened the popular farm-to-table restaurant Beast in 2007.

Pomeroy, who became known primarily through her appearance on the Bravo cooking show “Top Chef Masters,” won the prestigious James Beard Award in 2014 for her successful restaurant, which was later closed.

Before the body was found this week, the sheriff’s office used sonar, underwater cameras and drones in hopes of finding Pomeroy, but heavy debris in the area complicated the search.

Her body was taken to a funeral home and her family was notified.