“Top Chef Masters” star Naomi Pomeroy dies at 49 in dinghy accident

Naomi Pomeroy, a chef who appeared on cooking shows such as “Top Chef Masters,” drowned in a rubber dinghy accident, officials said. She was 49 years old.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, the Benton County Sheriff's Office said a woman's body was found on the Willamette River after being discovered by a group of canoeists. The body was later identified as that of Pomeroy, who went missing Saturday after drowning in the Oregon River.

Officials then delivered Pomeroy's body to a funeral home and notified the television star's family.

An investigation revealed that Pomeroy was pulled underwater after she and two other adults became entangled on inner tubes and a paddleboard, according to a BCSO news release Tuesday. Officials said Pomeroy was unable to free herself due to the paddleboard's leash.

Members of the Corvallis Fire Department recovered the other two adults from the shore and brought them safely to a boat ramp. However, according to the sheriff's office, officials were initially unable to recover Pomeroy.

“This office is dedicated to finding Naomi and bringing her home to her family and loved ones,” Sheriff Van Arsdall said at the time. “I want to thank everyone involved in the search and recovery mission during this difficult time.”

Pomeroy competed on Top Chef Masters in 2011. According to IMDb, she has also served as a guest judge on Top Chef and appeared on Iron Chef, The Taste, and Knife Fight.

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Born in Corvallis, Oregon, Pomeroy opened her restaurant Beast in Portland in 2007 and received the James Beard Foundation Award as Best Female Chef in the Northwest in 2014.

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The official Top Chef X account paid tribute to Pomeroy on Tuesday. “The Bravo and Top Chef family sends their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Chef Naomi Pomeroy,” a post on the account said. “Naomi was an outstanding chef who left a lasting mark on the culinary industry.”

In its press release, the Benton County Sheriff's Office pointed out that “rivers are inherently dangerous due to their currents and obstacles,” and warned, “When traveling on rivers, do not tie yourself to a paddleboard unless you have a quick-release leash. Also, do not tie two or more tubes together; in this case, you will need a life jacket for each person.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Death of Naomi Pomeroy: 'Top Chef Masters' star drowns in dinghy accident