Search underway for missing boater in North Idaho

Kootenai County Marine Patrols are continuing to search for a missing Shoshone County resident believed to have drowned on the Coeur d'Alene River near Kilarney Lake on Saturday.

The male has been identified as Kevin L. Walker, 45, of Kellogg. Walker jumped into the river and is believed to have drowned, according to a press release.

The Kootenai County Sonar and Dive Teams searched the area where Walker was last seen but didn't find him.

Marine deputies patroled the river throughout the day.

KCSO deputies and dive rescue, along with Shoshone Fire Rescue, Harrison QRU, East Side Fire, were dispatched to the area of Highway 3 and Kilarney Lake Road about 4 p.m. in reference to a reported missing man who was swimming in the Coeur d’Alene River.

Upon arrival, a woman reported she and the male were boating on the river, when at some point the keys to the boat ended up in the water, according to a KCSO press release. Both the woman and male entered the river to retrieve the keys.

The woman reported that at one point, the man, who was not wearing a life jacket, started calling out for help. The woman, who had made it to shore and was wearing a lifejacket, attempted to throw it to the man, but he ended up disappearing beneath the water.