Dive team members find drowning victim

POST FALLS — The body of a Hauser Lake man who went missing Saturday afternoon in the Spokane River near Corbin Park was found Sunday morning by members of the Kootenai County Dive Team.

The 61-year-old, whose name has not been released, was kayaking with two children when the kayak hit a set of rapids and overturned, sending all three occupants into the water, around 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The children were wearing life jackets and were able to make it to shore. The man was not wearing a life jacket, did not come out of the water and could not be located on Saturday evening

On Friday, a 35-year-old Spokane Valley man drowned in roughly the same location and the kayak his wife and child were in capsized. The man jumped into the water and was able to rescue them, but he was reported missing. KCSO divers found him in the water roughly an hour later and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friday’s victim also was not wearing a life jacket.

KCSO advises that people should not recreate in the Spokane River below the dam due to treacherous and constantly changing water conditions while the Avista Dam is open. The sheriff’s office also stated that the use of life jackets while recreating on the water saves lives.

KCSO advises to take additional safety precautions when recreating with children and less-experienced swimmers.