Lynnwood man dies after rafting accident on Yakima River

A Lynnwood man died overnight after falling off a raft into the Yakima River near Cle Elum.

Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Clayton Myers said that deputies, the marine unit and firefighters were called to the river, 8 miles west of Cle Elum, just after midnight. Someone had heard cries for help and called 911.

They arrived to find two people on shore and a dog trapped on the other side of the river. They were also told that a third person was missing in the river, and a dive team went in to look for him.

Myers said that the man’s body was soon found on the bottom of the river, about 30 feet from the bank. He was dead at the scene.

The three people and the dog were on a raft, floating down the Yakima, when the raft hit a log in the river. Myers said that the three and the dog went into the river, and two of the rafters and the dog swan to shore. But the third went under, and the others couldn’t find him. None were wearing life jackets, and Myers said that alcohol was a factor in the incident.

The two survivors told deputies that they often float the Yakima, and had just done it two weeks earlier. All were staying at a family cabin near where the accident occurred.

The deceased was identified as 25-year-old Tylor McFarland of Lynnwood.