By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A Bothell man drowned in East Lewis County after getting pinned down in a river between large logs and rocks.
Michael Lloyd Barrett, 41, was rescued by a group of kayakers who assisted Barrett’s fellow campers, but was pronounced dead at Morton General Hospital.
It happened Saturday afternoon on the Ohanapecosh River just outside the southern border of Mount Rainier National Park.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said Barrett was sitting in a shallow area of the river cooling off and when he moved to a deeper area lost his balance.
It is believed he may have intended to ride over a waterfall into a lower pool, something he’d done during previous visits there, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown.
His fellow campers tried but couldn’t get him out of the water, according to Brown. A well-trained group of kayakers happened upon the scene and pulled him out, she said.
Barrett was transported to the hospital, but didn’t make it, according to Brown.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. Nathan, you were a great help to us in the rescue and we are sorry for your loss. We did all we could.