A 24-year-old man who fell from a paddleboard on Alder Lake on Wednesday has been located and recovery efforts are underway, county officials said. The man went into the water while paddling with his girlfriend in the middle of the lake and did not resurface, according to early reports.
According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, the 24-year-old victim has been located, the family was notified and recovery efforts are underway. In its post, the department thanked members of the public who helped in the search and offered condolences to the family.
What Happened At Alder Lake
Local TV station KIRO 7 reports the man fell off his paddleboard around 4 p.m. Wednesday while his girlfriend was on another board nearby. Deputies said he was not wearing a life jacket and did not resurface. The outlet cited Pierce County deputies on scene and described a rapid, multi-agency response by marine and dive personnel.
Search Turned To Recovery
Crews from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office Marine Service Unit initially launched an intensive search, then paused operations overnight as darkness fell, authorities said. Activity resumed the following morning, and the mission shifted from search to recovery.
Officials asked the public to steer clear of the shoreline and launch areas so recovery teams could work safely and without interference, according to the sheriff's department's updates.
Alder Lake Park And Paddling Safety
Alder Lake Park sits on the northern end of Alder Lake at 50324 School Road in Eatonville and is operated by Tacoma Power's parks program, which maintains boat launches, camping and day-use areas. Tacoma Public Utilities lists park amenities and access details.
Boating-safety groups and injury-prevention experts emphasize that paddlecraft should have a Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person and that paddlers are strongly encouraged to wear them and carry a whistle. Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center notes that life jackets save lives and that many paddlecraft fatalities involved people who had life jackets available but were not wearing them.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office said the family has been notified and again extended condolences. Investigators and marine crews remain on scene as recovery work continues, and officials reminded anyone with an emergency to call 911 rather than messaging the department's social media accounts.
