By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The drowning victim from the incident on Mayfield Lake on Saturday has been identified as a 46-year-old Silver Creek man.
His name won’t be released until the coroner is able to talk with his family.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said he and a 49-year-old Tacoma resident had been fishing, but both went into the water when their boat drifted away after a brief stop a small island near the state Route 122 bridge at the northwest portion of the lake.
The 46-year-old stopped swimming about five feet short of the craft, and his companion went after him but turned back because of the cold temperatures, according to the sheriff’s office.
An employee at the nearby Ike Kinswa Park rescued the fisherman and brought him to shore where CPR was performed, but he was pronounced dead at Providence Centralia Hospital, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.
The Tacoma man was taken to Morton General Hospital to be treated for hypothermia.
Brown said the two had been drinking.
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For background, read “Mayfield Lake incident claims one boater, another rescued” from Saturday April 26, 2014, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
medical report of Gary Lee Rhoads JR. 46 of silvercreek wa./Gary’s uncle Karl Cort of tacoma who was with Gary R. , that his sister received, medical reported alcohol was not a factor in her brother’s drowning….at mayfield lake….My heart goes out to all familys that lose loved one’s and the reports and new are usually never all the facts…please read between the line .. these are loved ones that people have lost and are hurting… Gary l. Rhoads JR. was a -and kind and loving man. and loved and missed….Patty dahlquist..11-9-2014