Tacoma teenager who drowned on first camping trip identified

The Chehalis River runs along the left side of this photo. (File/Walter Siegmund/Wikimedia commons)



LEWIS COUNTY -- A 17-year-old boy who drowned Saturday afternoon in the Chehalis River has been identified.

Linsey Mike of Tacoma drowned while camping with friends Saturday at Rainbow Falls State Park.  Witnesses told deputies the Mike decided to go swimming. They said Mike told them he was not a very good swimmer but jumped into the water anyway.

A 19-year-old woman said she tried to save him, but Mike was flailing his arms so much she could not pull him to the surface.

Emergency officials could not find the boy before dark.

The Thurston County Sheriff's Dive Team found his body Sunday morning in the area where he went missing.

"This is another tragic water related fatality," said Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield. "Once again we are advising the public that whenever you are in areas of water, wear a flotation device if you aren’t a good swimmer. 90-percent of water related fatalities could have been prevented by wearing a flotation device."

Officials said the boy was originally from Nigeria and moved to Washington eight months ago. This was his first camping trip.