Man presumed drowned in American Lake after boat sinks
»Play Video
TACOMA, Wash. -- A 63-year-old man is presumed drowned on American Lake after the boat he was on sank Tuesday afternoon.
The man and his 65-year-old brother were out on the lake testing a 20-foot boat. At some point, the men smelled smoke and their boat began taking on water, said Lt. Chris Lawler with Lakewood police.
The 65-year-old man had a life vest but the younger man did not. As the boat began to sink, the man without a life vest tried to swim the 200 or so yards to the shoreline. He only made it some 75 yards before going under, Lawler said. The older man yelled for help and was rescued by other boaters.
A search for the man came up empty and now officials have termed the search as a recovery mission, Lawler said.
The survivor said he and his brother were test-driving the boat, which they were considering purchasing.
The victim has not been identified.
The man and his 65-year-old brother were out on the lake testing a 20-foot boat. At some point, the men smelled smoke and their boat began taking on water, said Lt. Chris Lawler with Lakewood police.
The 65-year-old man had a life vest but the younger man did not. As the boat began to sink, the man without a life vest tried to swim the 200 or so yards to the shoreline. He only made it some 75 yards before going under, Lawler said. The older man yelled for help and was rescued by other boaters.
A search for the man came up empty and now officials have termed the search as a recovery mission, Lawler said.
The survivor said he and his brother were test-driving the boat, which they were considering purchasing.
The victim has not been identified.
Kim, Your half-brothers, Shawn Harvey (43) and Ryan Harvey (37) would also like to know what the autopsy report said caused their dad to drown. We suspect a heart attack. Unfortunately, we did not know he drown in time for Shawn & Ryan to attended their own dad's funeral services. Most  family members did not know your dad had a granddaughter, Crystal Harvey, 18, a senior at Clover Park High School. She won a scholarship to attend Pacific Lutheran University in the fall to become a teacher. You can find Shawn & Crystal on facebook. I was your dad's first wife, married to him 12 years, and I have many photos when he was younger. Barbara Harvey-Sellers
He did indeed die doing what he loved. Â And he always had 1 PFD per person on any boat he ever went on, including ones he was testing for his brother Ernie. Â My dad was in very sound physical condition, perfectly capable of floating on his back if necessary. Â He always had his floaty cushions with armstraps. Â Something caused him to lose consciousness, I feel. Â It's the only thing that explains his inability to hold on and/or simply float on his own.
Boats of that size all have foam inserts to prevent complete sinking - there was no need for the man to jump ship and swim
Don't be harsh.
They stopped making life jackets shortly after the Titanic, you know.
If that is the boat, was it just towed there and is resting on itâs side, or is it floating that way and did not completely sink? If the latter, why not just hang on to it? Other than that, usually a life jacket will keep two persons heads above water in calm conditions. There is not a lot of information. I do feel for the brothersâ loss. There should have been a PFD for each passenger. Here is a good reason for that law.Â
"Note: Originally police said the 65-year-old man had a life vest but have since updated their investigation to clarify that he did not until given one after his rescue." Thank you for clarifying what was updated in the article, instead of silently editing and leaving some of us confused.
Hope he died doing what he loved.
This comment has been deleted
Sigh. As sad as this is, it was so preventable. Life Jackets, especially in an experimental boat.
That is a bummer, RIP old timer.