Divers have recovered the body of a Vancouver man from Yale Reservoir.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office reported that the body of Austin Wolford has been recovered from the reservoir, not far from where he was last seen swimming in distress.
The 19-year-old was believed to have drowned Sunday shortly after noon while swimming with friends. Wolford drifted out on an inner tube to a deep area of the reservoir, slipped off and could not get back on, according to a news release issued by the sheriff’s office. He was not wearing a life jacket and was described as not a strong swimmer.
Emergency responders, which included a team of divers, searched for Wolford for several hours Sunday and resumed the search Monday.
Wolford’s body will be turned over to the Cowlitz County coroner, who will determine the cause and manner of death.
Kelly Crain, a family friend and spokesman for the Wolford family, released the following statement:
“The Wolford family is understandably heartbroken in the face of this tragedy, but would like to thank the community for the immediate outpouring of support.”
Crain said that Austin Wolford was a 2013 graduate of Heritage High School in Vancouver, where he participated in baseball, football, and wrestling.
“Austin was well-known by family, friends, and former teachers as a courteous, helpful, and dependable young man. He will be sorely missed,” he said. “On behalf of the Wolford family, thank you for your continued prayers and support.”
For those wishing to help the Wolford family with funeral expenses, donations cam be made to “The Austin Wolford Memorial Fund” at any Columbia Credit Union branch or find the Austin Wolford Memorial Fund online at www.gofundme.com/b4oqkc.
The tragedy adds to a recent spike in water-related deaths across the Cascade region, according to the American Red Cross.
The agency reports that while 80 percent of Americans said they could swim, only 56 percent could perform basic skills that could save their life in water.
Every day, an average of 10 people die in the U.S. from unintentional drowning, and 10 percent of them are 14 years or younger, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Red Cross encourages residents to enroll in aquatics classes. More information can be found at www.redcross.org.
