Child vanishes in lake for minutes until 13-year-old dives in, WA officials say
UPDATE: The 11-year-old boy has been taken out of the ICU and is “recovering well,” fire officials said in a July 10 Facebook post. The teen who rescued him was recognized by the fire department with a T-shirt and commemorative challenge coin.
The original story is below.
A child was underwater in a lake for several minutes before a 13-year-old boy dived in and saved him, Washington fire officials said.
The 11-year-old boy fell off a dock at about 2:50 p.m. July 8 at Silver Lake, the Everett Fire Department said in a Facebook post.
An adult playing with children nearby yelled for help when they saw the boy fall in and never resurface, fire officials said.
A 13-year-old boy heard the commotion and dived into the water to search for him, rescuers said.
After “several attempts,” he found the boy in the water and took him to the surface, officials said.
Witnesses put the boy on the dock, where three nurses performed CPR on him until firefighters got to the scene minutes later, officials said.
He had been underwater for about four to six minutes, the fire department said.
The child was taken to a hospital, where he became conscious but was still in critical condition as of July 9.
“The Everett Fire Department recognizes the courageous actions of the 13-year-old teen for his bravery, which undoubtedly played a vital role in saving the child’s life,” officials said. They also praised the bystanders who helped in the rescue.
Everett is about a 30-mile drive north from Seattle.
Thousands die from drowning every year
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Child vanishes in lake for minutes until 13-year-old dives in, WA officials say."
