Long night swim mistaken for drowning

A woman feared drowned late Thursday night was found about a quarter

of a mile from where she disappeared, very much alive.

Around 10:25 p.m. members of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department,

Sheriff’s Department Dive Rescue Team, Coeur d’ Alene Police

Department and Kootenai Fire Department responded to the area of

Osprey Point on Lake Coeur d’Alene after being called by a man who

thought his female friend may have drowned.

The Sheriff's Department reported Gary Frank and Donna Heath, both

from Coeur d’ Alene, went to Osprey Point and Heath went for a swim.

She swam out where Frank could not see her. After about

20 minutes, Heath stopped responding to Frank. Frank feared Heath had drowned and called 911.

Divers checked the area around the beach, patrol units walked the

shoreline, and a watercraft began a search of the water in the area.

About 30 minutes into the search, Heath was located, in the water west

of where she first entered the water.  A boat from Kootenai Fire

pulled Heath from the water. She was uninjured and refused medical

treatment at the scene.

Alcohol was a factor in the incident, the report said, but criminal

charges are not being considered at this time.