North Sound News

Body of missing teen found in Lake Whatcom

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The body of a teenager was found in Lake Whatcom Wednesday, a day after he had been reported missing from Camp Firwood in Bellingham.

Whatcom County sheriff’s deputies were called to a report of a missing person at Camp Firwood in the 1700 Block of Lake Whatcom Boulevard just after 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The camp director said an 18-year-old camper was missing for several hours and was not found anywhere on the grounds.

The missing teen was part of a group of Chinese nationals on a tour.

It was later determined that the group went to a beach at 2:30  p.m. and participated in a sailboat tipping drill, where a swamped boat is uprighted.

The missing camper, identified as Bin Wang, did not participate in the drill but was seen at the beach near the water, and had removed his shirt, shoes and socks.

Another camper had Bin’s clothes, which had been left near a shed, as well as Bin’s glasses.

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No one saw Bin, who reportedly does not know how to swim, enter the water.

A ground search with K-9s began as shore areas were searched by boat. A search swimmer also checked the shallows in the areas around the camp.

The search was suspended for the day at dusk.

Search and rescue efforts continued throughout the day Wednesday and search dogs were used on the water in boats. The dogs pointed to an area in the cove where the water drops off to about 30 feet a short distance from the shore.

An underwater camera was used to check the area and the body of Bin was found. His body was recovered and turned over to the Whatcom County Medical Examiner.

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