Woman who drowned in Skykomish River identified

MONROE — The Seattle woman who died Monday after being pulled from the Skykomish River was identified as Arden L. Balyeat.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner said Balyeat, 48, died as a result of fresh water drowning. Her death was ruled an accident.

She was in the river with her son, 7, around 2 p.m. when the pair lost their footing and were pulled downstream, Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.

Bystanders rescued the two from the water and medics performed CPR on the woman.

Both were taken to Valley General Hospital. The son was later released.

“As the temperature continues to climb, we expect more and more people to flock to lakes, rivers and streams to cool off. We don’t want to see another tragedy like this,” she said.

Both the mother and boy in Monday’s incident were not wearing life jackets, Hover said.

“As tragic as this is, this is a good time to remind people to wear floatation devices if they are going to be in the water – or even near the water, especially children,” Hover said.

The woman who died Monday is the third drowning victim in Snohomish County this year.

A Lake Stevens woman, Cindy Tate, 48, died July 11 after her boat flipped.

In Everett, a man, 24, died after going under the water in Silver Lake. He died on June 1.