A 43-year-old man has drowned in the Cowlitz River in Southwest Washington, about five years after his older brother drowned in the same river.
Castle Rock police Sgt. Scott Neves says Michael Bell, of Ryderwood, yelled for help shortly after jumping into the river Saturday morning. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer found his body a mile downstream from where he was last seen.
The Daily News reports that Bell’s older brother, Rodney Bell, of Longview, was 40 when he drowned in 2007 while swimming in the Cowlitz with friends.
Family members told police they had been with Michael Bell about an hour before he died and he did not appear to be despondent.
Police warn the river is running fast and cold, and conditions are dangerous for swimmers.
