Local News

Underwater Search Team Locates Drowning Victim


Apr 17, 2019

DSCN3714.JPG

Tuesday morning, with the assistance of the Ralston and Associates Underwater Search and Rescue out of Idaho, officials were able to locate 20-year-old Alexander Bravo-Marroquin in Washburn pond off of State Route 17.  

Okanogan County Sheriff Tony Hawley said Bravo-Marriquin and his 18-year-old brother Jesus had been in a canoe on the pond back on April 4, when the canoe overturned.  Hawley said both brothers attempted to swim to shore near the boat launch, however only Jesus Bravo-Marroquin was able to make it to shore. 

Hawley said multiple volunteers from the Okanogan County Search and Rescue (OCSAR),  Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Colville Tribal Department of Recreation, and  U.S. Border Patrol assisted in searching the water to attempt to locate Alexander.  The Sheriff said Okanogan County SAR utilized many volunteer resources, including boats, divers, drones, underwater cameras, and human remains air scent K9 from Ferry County SAR, in the effort to locate Alexander over several days.

On Friday, the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office contacted Ralston and Associates Underwater Search and Rescue out of Idaho to assist with the search.  Gene Ralston arrived on Monday morning to assist with the search efforts.  Hawley said his boat is equipped with sonar and was instrumental in locating Alexander. 

At about 1042hrs this morning, April 16, 2109,  with the assistance of the Ralston and Associates Underwater Search and Rescue out of Idaho, we located Bravo-Marroquin, Alexander in Washburn pond.  OCSO and OCSAR dive teams were able to recover Alexander from the water.  The assistance of Ralston and Associates with their equipment and expertise were invaluable in bring this search a conclusion.    

OCSO and OCSAR dive teams were able to recover Alexander from the water. 

Hawley said there was 274 volunteer man hours used on the Washburn Pond search.  He said this does not county deputies, WDFW, or CTPD time. The Sheriff said, “I would suspect that very close to 400 hours in all.”  The OCSO Search and Rescue is a volunteer organization from all across the county and is continuously recruiting those who are interested in serving the community.  Hawley said, “Without the volunteer service of our SAR members our search efforts would be extremely limited.” 

In all, two WDFW boats, two CTPD boats, one Ferry County volunteer boat, two volunteer drones, two volunteer human remains scent dogs, three underwater cameras, and the Ralston’s boat with sonar from Idaho were utilized in this search.  The Sheriff said, there were four divers used on different days which included the Sheriff’s office, coroner office, volunteer SAR member and fish and game out of Chelan.

Hawley said, “The assistance of Ralston and Associates with their equipment and expertise were invaluable in bring this search a conclusion. “ 

DSCN3711.JPG

DSCN3710.JPG  


Top of page
-------------------
© 2024 Okanogan Country Radio. All rights reserved.