ENUMCLAW, Wash. — A teenager from Yakima who spent at least 45 minutes underwater Monday afternoon in Deep Lake near Enumclaw later died, the King County Sheriff's Office said.
He was part of a church group that was visiting the area for Creation Fest, a Christian music festival.
The pastor who founded Creation Fest said he comforted the teen’s mom. “It’s really sad. The mother just crumpled in my arms and cried and cried and cried,“ said Pastor Harry Thomas, Jr. He identified the teen as 17-year-old Zachary Kuhn of Yakima.
Kuhn was attending Creation Fest with his family. He and a friend decided to go swimming at Nolte State Park nearby. That’s when the teen ran into trouble.
Someone saw him bobbing up and down in the lake, but they didn't think he was possibly drowning.
Kuhn slipped under the surface and a frantic search began. Eyewitnesses said people were yelling his name, "Zack, Zack."
Two swimmers put on masks and snorkels to try to get a better look underwater, but they couldn't find him.
Divers from the sheriff's office eventually discovered the boy in 50 feet of water where the temperature was a chilly 53 degrees.
Rescue workers started CPR immediately after getting the teen out. They continued in an ambulance on the way to an Auburn hospital, where doctors worked on the teen. Rescuers say he was in very critical condition.
David Basher witnessed the rescue effort and said, "I don't know how the kid's doing. I'm hoping that God did a miracle."
Pastor Harry Thomas said they prayed for Kuhn and his family at the Christian music festival. They had grief counselors available to help comfort his friends.
Thomas says Kuhn attended the event with his family. They were camping nearby, “They were excited about a great event, doing things as a family. Their family is very dedicated to their faith,” said Thomas.
Kuhn later died at Auburn Medical Center Wednesday.