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25C07637 Colchuck Lake Drowning

Sheriff Mike Morrison reports, on Sunday August 3rd, at approximately 7:16 pm a satellite text-to-911 call was made to RiverCom dispatch.  The person stated a person had been underwater for five minutes and they were not breathing.  An additional person also communicated through satellite text and said the person was not breathing and they were performing CPR on them. 

The coordinates from the texts show they were on the west side of Colchuck Lake.  A Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator was called immediately.  Due to the remote location of the incident, a call was made to Washington State Department of Emergency Management to request a hoist capable helicopter.   The US Army Air Ambulance Detachment (Yakima Dustoff) was called right away, due to them being closer in proximity than other air assets and their ability to respond with a paramedic to SAR calls.  They arrived in the area at approximately 8:46 and inserted a medic to the patient by hoist. 

Search and rescue personnel were also deployed on the ground to assist if needed.  This included 6 rescuers from Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue and 2 Chelan County Sheriff’s Office SAR Deputies. 

The swimmer, a 30-year-old North Carolina man was transported to the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery where Cascade Medical Paramedics were standing by.  Unfortunately, the patient did not survive. 

The ground responders were able to meet up with and assist the remaining three people from the hiking group along with the other group who pulled him from the water and performed CPR for over an hour while waiting for further assistance.

 

SEE FULL MEDIA RELEASE (PDF)

Last Updated: 08/07/2025 01:06 PM

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