An Issaquah teen is presumed dead after he went missing while swimming with friends in the Snoqualmie River near Olallie State Park Sunday evening, King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Cindi West said.
On Monday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office has suspended its search for the teen. Sheriff’s dive teams, Eastside Fire and Search and Rescue spent the day searching the river for the teen but are now out of areas that can be safely searched, the department announced via a press release.
The 16-year-old was swimming with two friends above the falls near the state park. They were trying to cross the river when he and another went over the nearby falls.
The other teen suffered some hip pain but was otherwise unharmed. The Issaquah teen never resurfaced.
The King County Marine Rescue Dive Unit responded and conducted a surface search of the area, but the rapid current made conditions dangerous for divers.
The missing teen’s name was not released.
In today’s announcement, the Sheriff’s Office stated that conditions will have to improve before another search can be conducted. County officals are also reminding everyone to use caution in and around the water. Waterbodies including lakes, rivers and Puget Sound are extremely cold this time of year. A strong swimmer can become quickly incapacitated from cold-water shock, add that to a strong current and the results can be deadly.