Another man is presumed drowned near Eagle Falls

INDEX — A man is presumed to have drowned after he went underwater Wednesday night near Eagle Falls.

First-responders were called to the scene around 6 p.m. Witnesses initially thought the man might have gotten to the shore somewhere else and did not call 911 right away, Sky Valley Fire Chief Eric Andrews said. The fire district used a drone to search from above while divers with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office looked through pools of water where someone could have gotten caught.

They never found the man. Searchers left the scene around 10 p.m., when it became too dark.

“There was not much more we could do at that point,” Andrews said.

The man likely drowned, Andrews said. His identity has not been released. The search was expected to resume Thursday.

Eagle Falls has been the site of several fatalities in recent years, especially in the heat of the summertime.

Social media videos of people going through the rapids or jumping into the river have increased the popularity of Eagles Falls, Sky Valley Fire Assistant Chief Ernie Walters recently told a Herald reporter.

The popular attraction along U.S. 2 has been the site of other fatalities and near-drownings in recent years. In June, 32-year-old Peter Sei, of Tacoma, died after he was swept away by the river. And last Saturday and Sunday, Sky Valley Fire responded to five incidents, including rescues of several people.

Andrews urged people to exercise caution. He said fire stations, including those with Sky Valley Fire, have programs to loan out flotation devices.

Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @zachariahtb.