Body of Bonney Lake man recoverd from Grand Canal

27-year old could not swim and had no life vest

By Dan Hammock • June 19, 2017 7:00 pm
Stephanie Morton photo A Coast Guard helicopter hovers over the scene of a boating accident on the Grand Canal in Ocean Shores. According to Ocean Shores Police, a 27-year old Bonney Lake man fell from his boat and was unable to swim and was not wearing a life vest.
Stephanie Morton photo A Coast Guard helicopter hovers over the scene of a boating accident on the Grand Canal in Ocean Shores. According to Ocean Shores Police, a 27-year old Bonney Lake man fell from his boat and was unable to swim and was not wearing a life vest.

Divers on Saturday found the body of a 27-year old man who had been missing in the Grand Canal in Ocean Shores after his boat flipped Friday and he was unable to make it to shore.

He was identified as Jeremy Barnes of Bonney Lake.

“We had two people go in the water,” said Ocean Shores Police Sgt. David McManus. He said the Bonney Lake man and an unidentified 12-year old boy were in a kayak and a canoe when the man’s boat capsized. McManus said the man “had no life vest and didn’t know how to swim.” He called for help but quickly slipped beneath the surface.

The 12-year old boy attemptd to help the victim and was able to make it to shore, though rather traumatized, his mother told The Daily World.

Ocean Shores Police and a helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard spent hours combing the area but were unable to find Barnes. His body was found and recovered at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, said Lt. Corey Kuhl of the Ocean Shores Fire Department. The multi-agency effort included the Ocean Shores police and fire departments, Coast Guard, and the Thurston County Sheriff’s dive team.

The area of the canal where the incident occurred was in the 900 block of Pt. Brown Avenue NE.

Kuhl noted the Thurston County dive team arrived first thing Saturday for what was a presumed body recovery with a boat, divers, and specialized sonar equipment to help locate Barnes.

“This is the second drowning this week, and four water rescues/recoveries in the last three weeks. OSFD would again like to take this opportunity to stress the importance of practicing good safety water habits when enjoying all the water activities in our area,” Kuhl said.

“Using life jackets on the fresh waterways, using the buddy system when doing water activities, recognizing a rip tide and knowing how to properly get out of one, and ensuring that you or a friend is not in the water for too long without the wet/dry suit are just some general safety practices.”

The Fire Department referred the public a link to some more water safety tips: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety

Kuhl also notes to “remember that our beaches do not have any lifeguards on duty — it is a swim-at-your-own risk beach.