Teen’s body found after he vanished while rafting with friends, Washington cops say
A 17-year-old boy was found dead hours after he vanished while rafting down a fast-moving river in Washington with friends, deputies said.
A group of seven people connected their tubes May 20 to float down the Cle Elum River near the Salmon La Sac Campground, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Minutes later, their makeshift raft caught on tree limbs and other “underwater hazards,” deputies said.
The friends became separated as they were sent into the water.
Once they regrouped, deputies said the friends realized the 17-year-old boy was missing. They called authorities for help at about 12:30 p.m.
Rescuers found the teen’s body lodged under a log in the river two hours later, deputies said.
He was wearing a life jacket.
Another teen injured his ankle in the incident and was taken to a hospital, authorities said.
“When the rivers of Kittitas County are running high, as they are now, they can be dangerous for even skilled and well-equipped operators,” deputies said.
Authorities also said the rivers and lakes in Washington can be extremely cold. The water can be disabling or cause “deadly cold-water shock.”
“Recognize and respect the hazards of wild waterways, know your capabilities and limitations, and please act carefully to enjoy our outdoors and our waters safely,” deputies said.
The Salmon La Sac Campground is about 100 miles east of Seattle.
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