Teen drowns in Grays Harbor lake
SEATTLE -- An 18 year old Montesano teenager died after jumping into the water below Wynoochee Falls in Grays Harbor Friday afternoon, said Grays Harbor Chief Criminal Deputy Steve Shumate.
Around 1:15 p.m., Grays Harbor Dispatch received a call from a 22 year old man who was reporting that he and three friends had been swimming and jumping into the water when one of the friends did not resurface.
The man had to travel 10 miles to the public phone at the Coho Campground at Wynoochee Lake as there was no cell phone service in that area, said Shumate.
Deputies, aid personnel from Grays Harbor Fire District #2, and a Washington State Department of Fish and Wildfire agent arrived in the area but could not find the apparent drowning victim.
Shortly after 4 p.m., a diver located the victim approximately 25 feet of water just below the falls.
The victim is identified as 18 year old Ernest Estrella on Montesano, said Shumate.
It is unknown if Estrella died as a result of striking an object while jumping into the water, or if the coldness and extreme turbulence of the water affected the man's ability to swim, said Shumate.
There was a significant amount of water flow and the water was very cold as is typical this time of year.
An autopsy will be performed.