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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 06/25/2017 - Approximately 6:00AM this morning, members of the Kittitas County Marine Unit located the body of 27 year old David Burgos of Granger,last seen Sunday the 18th around 8:00 P.M. Swimming with two friends in Lake Mattoon.
Mr. Burgos body was located on the north end of the lake, about 50 yards from shore. The lake is 10 to 50 feet deep in this area. The victim and his two friends, also from the Granger area, were floating on tubes and swimming last Sunday, the 18th of June. His friends reported Burgos was swimming behind them as they drifted with the wind across the North side of the lake. When they last saw him he was swimming towards shore. They combed the shoreline and, when they could not find him, they called the Sheriff's Office. Deputies assisted them until dark, checking the area to verify he had not come off the lake, then they notified the Dive Team. Members of the Sheriff's Marine Unit and Dive Team have conducted daily searches since Monday the 19th. The searches have been hampered by poor visibility and heavy mill-foil, which is 7 to 8 feet deep and too thick to see or swim through. Undersheriff Myers provided the following, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victim over their loss. There is no blame for this tragedy. Mr. Burgos and his friends were enjoying a summer swim in a lake, they did nothing wrong". On behalf of the Sheriff's Office, we share the following so others may be safer in the water; "It is not uncommon for heavy mil-foil to entangle swimmers legs. Mil-foil does not drag people under. It entangles the legs, reducing the swimmers ability to stay afloat. The effects generally become worse if the swimmer panics or flails their legs. The best course of action when encountering mil-foil is to try and remain calm, take a breath and wrap your hands around your leg above the mil-foil and push it down the leg and off the end of the foot. Mil-foil is strong, so trying to tear it off does not work very well," For more information on swimmer safety or water conditions, contact the Sheriff's Marine Units in the area where you plan to recreate.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Clay Myers, Undersheriff509-925-8534Clay.myers@co.Kittitas.wa.us