Teenager pulled unconscious from lake after being under water for 40 minutes

MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. — A teenage boy who ran into trouble while swimming, sank beneath the surface and was under water for about 40 minutes was pulled unconscious from Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley Tuesday.

Emergency responders were able "to get a heartbeat back in the patient before transporting him to a local hospital via Airlift Northwest," Kent Fire spokesman Kyle Ohashi said.

The 911 call was made about 4:38 p.m. from the east side of Lake Wilderness, where the teenage boy disappeared while swimming with friends at a private beach in the 25300 block of 232nd Ave. SE., Ohashi said.

An off-duty Kent police officer happened to be there with his family and, after making the 911 call, dove into the lake to search for the teen, Ohashi said. Dive teams later arrived and took over the search.

This is the area in Lake Wilderness where the teenagers were swimming Tuesday before one disappeared under the water. (Photo: KCPQ)

The dive teams found the teenager in about 30 feet of water. He had been under water for about 40 minutes, Ohashi said.

Medics immediately began performing CPR and were able to get a heartbeat before airlifting the teen to a local hospital.

The teen's condition was not immediately disclosed.