The star of the American MasterChef has been found dead: 49-year-old woman was one of the best chefs in the US

Famous American chef Naomi Pomeroy died during a family vacation on the Willamette River. The MasterChef star passed away on July 13 as a result of an incident while tubing, or riding on an inflatable circle on the water.

The cause of the death was a large branch that caused the vacationers to fall over, CNN reports. The body of the woman, who died at the age of 49, was found four days after the accident.

According to the Benton County Sheriff's Office, four people, including Naomi Pomeroy, her husband, and daughter, decided to try an extreme form of recreation by combining three tubing circles and a paddleboard together. While traveling rapidly on the waters of the Willamette, the structure caught on a bare branch, causing an accident. The American chef's family members managed to survive because, unlike the star, they were wearing life jackets.

Immediately after the incident, rescuers searched the river bottom using sonar, underwater cameras and drones, but the body of the drowned woman could not be found. The deceased Naomi Pomeroy was spotted by tourists who were canoeing on July 17, People writes. Benton County reported that the victim was found in a shallow section of bedrock near the middle of the Willamette River.

Naomi Pomeroy, 49, has been recognized as the best chef in the Pacific Northwest and awarded the James Beard Award.

"What a loss. Naomi was not only a great chef and entrepreneur, but also an amazing person. Her influence went far beyond Portland, helping to establish our leadership and reputation in the food industry. She will be greatly missed," commented Oregon State Representative Earl Blumenauer.

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