Woman feared drowned is found

A woman feared drowned late Thursday night was found about a quarter of a mile from where she disappeared.

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 an area on Lake Coeur d'Alene about a mile from Higgens Point, 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 into the water 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 found in the water west of where she first entered. 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, and criminal charges are not being considered at this time.