WASHINGTON, USA — Although western Washington is on track to see record-breaking temperatures to kick off summer, the temperatures of lakes and rivers are still dangerously cold.
Two men in their 20s died on Friday in separate incidents in King and Pierce County lakes.
Rescue crews with Pierce County responded to a call for a water rescue around 3:30 p.m. on Friday. The victim, a 29-year-old man, was pulled from the water, but died despite life-saving efforts.
Rescuers in King County were called to Lake Sammamish just after 5 p.m. on Friday to search for a paddle boarder who went missing. Divers and air support searched for an hour and 15 minutes before a man, also in his 20s, was found dead in the water.
"Please remember that although the weather is heating up, our waterways are still very cold," the Pierce County Sheriff's Office warned in a tweet on Friday. "Wear your life jacket and swim with a buddy."
While high temperatures are rising into the 80s on Father's Day weekend, the temperatures in rivers and lakes around Washington will remain in the 50s and 60s well into the summer.
"I think a lot of people are familiar with that sensation you get when you step out of a really warm environment into really cold water, and your body can react differently sometimes it can cause cramps or cause you to really freeze up, and it can limit your abilities in the water," said Deputy Jeff Papen with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.