Distressed swimmer reported at Paradise Point State Park presumed drowned

A swimmer in distress near Paradise Point State Park was presumed drowned after searchers were unable to locate him early Tuesday evening.

A bystander called 911 around 4:45 p.m. to report a drowning in the area.

Clark County Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Dawdy said witnesses reported seeing a man in his 40s struggling in the water of the East Fork Lewis River, and indicating he was in trouble, before going under.

Fire district divers aggressively searched the area for an hour, Dawdy said, but were unable to locate the man.

The rescue swimmers were called back for exhaustion, he said.

Dawdy said the dive team from the sheriff’s office was taking over, but after that much time, the man was presumed drowned.

It’s unclear where the man entered the water, he said, adding the sheriff’s office was investigating what happened.

Paradise Point State Park is west of La Center in North Clark County.