KITTITAS COUNTY, Wash. — An 86-year-old woman died Thursday after drowning in the Yakima River in Kittitas County, Washington.
Officials said the woman was traveling with a group of five other people. Their ages ranged from 59 to 86, KIRO-TV reported.
The group discussed safety measures before getting on the river with life vests, fishing-style float tubes and pontoon boats.
Officials said three people fell in the water when their floats hit a log jam.
Two of those people, a 64-year-old woman and a 76-year-old man, were able to swim to shore, KIRO-TV reported.
The 86-year-old woman was under water for about 10 minutes before the group was able to pull her body to shore. They performed CPR on the woman but were unable to save her.
The woman’s 64-year-old daughter said the water had looked calm and peaceful and they thought they did everything right, officials said.
“This tragedy illustrates the need for continuing outreach and education about water safety” said Kittitas County Sheriff Clay Myers. “It is very easy to underestimate the power generated by even slow-moving water.”
Read more at KIRO7.com.
Cox Media Group
