CHELAN, Wash. — A 36-year-old man drowned in Lake Chelan on Saturday afternoon after the inflatable kayak he and his friend were in capsized, according to Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett.
At 2:49 p.m., emergency dispatchers began receiving calls about two men in the water – one of whom was seen for a moment in the water before going under -- north of the dock area at Lake Chelan State Park.
One man made it to a nearby boat and was pulled from the water in fair condition. Several boaters who were taking part in a fishing derby began looking for the missing man. State park rangers, deputies, rescue swimmers, firefighters and medics participated in the search effort.
Police said the victim, identified as Tacoma man Bonventure Gitau, was not wearing a life vest or flotation device when the kayak capsized.
Shortly before 4 p.m., the victim’s body was spotted on the bottom of the lake, about 30 feet down, according to the sheriff’s office. His body was recovered by a diver from Fire District 7.
His body was released to the Chelan County Coroner’s Office.
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