Updated at 9:23 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Responders are preparing to go back in the Chehalis River this morning hoping to find a 16-year-old Rochester High School student who vanished while swimming yesterday.
Courtesy photo by West Thurston Regional Fire Authority
More than 30 rescue personnel scoured the river and its banks after the call yesterday evening to an area southwest of Rochester.
While they suspended their search at dark, there is the possibility the teen somehow made it to shore, according to a spokesperson for West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.
“He might have hunkered down for the night for shelter,” Lt. Lanette Dyer said. “There’s still hope. We’re gonna stay on the positive side.”
The approximately 5 p.m. call to 911 came immediately after the teen went under water, according to Dyer.
The West Thurston fire department said shortly after the boy jumped in the river to catch up with two 18-year-old girls, his 14-year-old brother on the shore realized something was wrong.
“He wasn’t yelling for help, but he kept going up and down in the water,” Dyer said.
The 14-year-old alerted the girls who turned around and started swimming back toward him, but he went under and didn’t come up, she said.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said the dive rescue team is returning this morning. The Special Operations Rescue Team (SORT) comprised of firefighters from several agencies is expected back as well. The Washington State patrol put a plane in the air and ground crews were en route to walk the land along the river, she said.
The spot is on the 12,600 block of Independence Road is about two miles west of the bridge at Michigan Hill Road.
Dyer said with the beautiful spring weather yesterday, the river looked inviting but this time of year, the waters are not as safe as they might appear.
“It’s smooth as glass on top, and underneath, it’s just ripping,” she said.
The boy is Christopher P. Garay, 16, from Rochester.
His mother was among some three dozen individuals, including many of his classmates, who gathered yesterday during the search, according to Dyer.
“One of the things she asked us to share with the media is to ask for all people not to give up hope,” Dyer said. “And she has put her faith in God and she is relying on that faith to see her son through.”
Update at 2:30 p.m: Searchers found his body about 11:30 a.m. today, at the bottom of the river less than 50 yards from where he was last seen, according to sheriff’s Lt. Greg Elwin.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I read this evening that the body of this young man was found today. My thoughts and prayers to his family, and friends.
my sympathy goes out to this family in thier time of loss:(