Boy, 15, drowns in Fairview’s Blue Lake Regional Park

FAIRVIEW, Ore. (KATU) — A 15-year-old boy died after drowning in Blue Lake Regional Park on Tuesday night, in accordance with the Gresham Fire Department.

Rescue crews had been known as to the park at about 5:40 p.m. on a report {that a} boy swimming within the lake was lacking.

Members of the neighborhood had been actively on the lookout for the boy when crews arrived, mentioned Shawn Durham, a spokesperson with Gresham Fire.

Rescuers then started trying to find the boy and Durham mentioned one in every of Gresham Fire’s rescue swimmers discovered him. Rescuers introduced the boy to the seashore and started CPR, however he didn’t survive.

The boy was discovered underwater roughly 75 toes from shore and about 45 minutes after 911 requires assist had been made.

“The community members, they did an amazing thing. They entered the water; they made an effort to find him,” Durham mentioned. “That’s something that does not go unnoticed. But we’re sad to say that the 15-year-old male did pass.”

He careworn that individuals ought to think about using life jackets.

“This is the third drowning that we’ve had in the last 10 days,” mentioned 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 identified that at Blue Lake Regional Park there’s a kiosk the place individuals can pick a life jacket to make use of whereas swimming within the lake. He mentioned one of the best ways to forestall drownings is for individuals to make use of them. He added that they want to see individuals swimming with different individuals and never alone.

Plock mentioned {the teenager} was on the lake along with his household.

On Monday afternoon, a person drowned within the Columbia River whereas fishing with relations at Chinook Landing Marine Park.