Boy dies during family outing at Lake Tapps

SEATTLE (AP) — A 17-year-old boy on a family outing at Lake Tapps died after jumping into the water to retrieve a football.

KOMO-TV http://bit.ly/oNSWxH reports the boy was at a barbecue Saturday at the popular lake when he jumped in to retrieve the ball.

Sgt. Mike Blair of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office says witnesses could see the boy in distress just before he disappeared below the surface.

Family members swam out but could not find him.

They notified the crew of a Pierce County marine service boat at a nearby boat launch. The teen was found and pulled out of the water.

Medics performed CPR but the boy was later pronounced dead.

Blair says cold water below the surface of Lake Tapps may have contributed to the boy’s distress.

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Information from: KOMO-TV, http://www.komotv.com/