The body of a woman who is an apparent drowning victim was pulled from Illinois River Thursday afternoon, April 5, just above the swinging bridge at McCaleb Scout Ranch.

Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) responded to the scene some 18 miles from Redwood Hwy. out Illinois River Road from Selma.

Witnesses phoned 911 at 4:39 p.m. and said that they heard a woman screaming, and later found the body floating near shore, said JCSO.

The victim, identified as 52-year-old Joanne Lynn Stevens, of Ashland, had parked her black Audi upstream and had been walking the shoreline, according to witnesses. She presumably slipped, causing a head injury, and drowned in the turbulent water downstream, said JCSO.

Witnesses who pulled Stevens from the river attempted CPR, but were unable to resuscitate her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Steep terrain and hot weather slowed recovery efforts. County Search And Rescue Mountain Rescue Team assisted with recovery of the body.