SerpApi.Org
A 15-year-old boy died after drowning in Blue Lake Regional Park on Tuesday evening, according to the Gresham Fire Department.
Rescue crews were called to the park at about 5:40 p.m. on a report that a boy swimming in the lake was missing.
Members of the community were actively looking for the boy when crews arrived, said Shawn Durham, a spokesperson with Gresham Fire.
Rescuers then began searching for the boy and Durham said one of Gresham Fire's rescue swimmers found him. Rescuers brought the boy to the beach and began CPR, but he did not survive.
The boy was found underwater approximately 75 feet from shore and about 45 minutes after 911 calls for help were made.
“The community members, they did an amazing thing. They entered the water; they made an effort to find him,” Durham said. “That’s something that does not go unnoticed. But we’re sad to say that the 15-year-old male did pass.”
He stressed that people should consider using life jackets.
“This is the third drowning that we’ve had in the last 10 days,” said Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deputy John Plock. “The one thing that all three drownings have in common is none of them were wearing life jackets.”
He pointed out that at Blue Lake Regional Park there is a kiosk where people can pick out a life jacket to use while swimming in the lake. He said the best way to prevent drownings is for people to use them. He added that they would like to see people swimming with other people and not alone.
Plock said the teenager was at the lake with his family.
On Monday afternoon, a man drowned in the Columbia River while fishing with relatives at Chinook Landing Marine Park.
