Christopher Puentes-Garay pictured in a recent photo at school. / Courtesy photo
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Maria Puentes is hoping to take her son home.
Home to Los Angeles to be buried.
Christopher Puentes-Garay, a 16-year-old Rochester High School student, died unexpectedly while swimming Tuesday afternoon in the Chehalis River with one of his brothers, his cousin and another friend.
The single mother of four moved her family to Rochester just last summer, according to her sister Tracy Yanez.
“She moved her boys out of Los Angeles for a safer place to live,” Yanez said.
Puentes-Garay vanished under the water shortly after he jumped in to catch up to his cousin and her friend, according to authorities.
It happened on the 12,600 block of Independence Road, about two miles west of the bridge at Michigan Hill Road near Rochester.
Searchers found his body the following day, at the bottom of the river less than 50 yards from where he was last seen.
Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said an autopsy today confirmed he drowned, but he didn’t have a certain explanation as to why.
It could have been the current, or it could have been the water was very cold, according to Warnock.
“He was in apparent good health,” Warnock said. “For he, his friends and his family, it was just a normal day.”
Up until he drowned.
One thing that can happen, is when a person’s body temperature is warm and they jump into cold water, their diaphragm can constrict and make it difficult to breathe, according to the coroner.
Puentes-Garay was the oldest of four children, a boy who was the “man of the house” and would make cakes for his mother, Yanez said.
He will also leave behind five cousins mourning in Rochester.
“My 3-year-old today, said “Mom, now Chris can sit on the moon’,” Yanez said. “She understands.”
Students at Rochester High School are making T-shirts in his memory.
Maria Puentes’ managers have coordinated fundraising so she can take her son back to Highland Park, where his grandmother is, according to Yanez.
Donations can be made at Twin Star Credit Union, where a special account has been set up, she said.
A car wash is set for tomorrow at Bailey’s IGA at 10333 U.S. Highway 12 in Rochester, to start at about 10 a.m.
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For background, read “Search resumes for teen lost in Chehalis River” from Wednesday May 16, 2012, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Still here waiting till that day comes I think about day and night I will forever love ❤️ u miss u my son. 2019
Hey its me the twin if anyonr could help me get in conyact with thim it will be a great help i heard about this not to pong ago and it bothers me that i did not say my last good bye to my child hood friend if anyonr can help reach me at 626 200 32 82 still feel like this is all a dream
still can’t believe you’re gone..
Chris… We still miss you terribly. Whenever I think of you I think of when we were in elementary together and you would help me play kick ball. I still cannot believe this happened. I couldn’t believe your funeral was real. Everytime I see Andrew in hlp I miss you even more and think of how you always took care of us. You would protect your family so much and you loved us all. I never got to say good bye and it’s something that will always haunt me. I love you little cousin and miss you so much. May your soul rest in peace.
My son I miss u more than words can say every day I think about our good moments as a family. I miss u and I wont give up I promise. Day by day I pray to god I know that we will meet again. thank you for being a good son. Thank you to every one who helped look for my son. DEDICATE THIS SONG TO MY SON – RIHANNA -STAY
I am soooo sorry for your guyses loss and I would like to hope you the best of luck!!!!!
i miss and love you big brother
i miss you chris you are missed dearly i love you badly