Lynnwood teen drowns in Seattle

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, September 5, 2006

A 14-year-old Lynnwood boy drowned Monday evening in Lake Washington, King County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart said.

Aaron Bahta was swimming with two younger brothers, ages 9 and 10, about 20 feet from the lake shore when he disappeared beneath the surface, Urquhart said.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene just after 6 p.m. Aaron had been underwater for about 40 minutes when crews found him 70 feet from the shore, where the water is 31 feet deep, Urquhart said.

“He wasn’t a particularly strong swimmer,” Urquhart said. “There was no life jacket, and he was out over his head.”

Aaron was with his brothers and his mother and father at O. O. Denny Park on Lake Washington’s eastern shore. The park is located in unincorporated King County, between Kenmore and Kirkland. It does not have a designated swimming area, Urquhart said.

Aaron was to return as an eighth grader to Meadowdale Middle School in Lynnwood on Tuesday.

An announcement was made at the school Tuesday afternoon over the school’s TV station. Grief counselors were at the school Tuesday and will also be there today.

“This news will come as a shock to everyone in our Meadowdale community,” said Meadowdale Middle School Principal Christine Avery in a letter to the students’ families.

Avery urged parents to take time to talk with their children about what happened.

Aaron’s seventh-grade teachers described him as a well-liked, sensitive and soft-spoken boy who loved basketball, was respectful of adults and didn’t mind coming in after school for extra help. He also tried to comfort classmates when they were upset.

“He was just one of those genuinely nice kids,” said Belinda Gloyd, who had Aaron in a PE class last year. “You loved having him in class and as your friend because he was just a nice kid.”

Mike Kendrick, a social studies teacher, said Aaron always managed to be polite, even when the student was giving him a hard time.

Maria Witkowicz, a school librarian, taught seventh-grade English last year and remembers Aaron’s willingness to come in after school for study club to get help with his writing. Aaron always looked forward to the popcorn treat for his extra effort and his writing was improving, she said.

“He wanted to do well,” Witkowicz said. “He wanted to be successful.”

Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.