Swimmer dies after being pulled from bottom of Lake Tapps
»Play Video
BONNEY LAKE, Wash. -- A swimmer who was pulled from the bottom of Lake Tapps by rescue divers has died.
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said the 19-year-old man died at Good Samaritan Hospital on Sunday night.
The man disappeared while swimming in the lake at about 5:30 p.m. and was under water for more than 15 minutes before he was located.
It was not clear what caused the man to go under. His name has not been released.
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said the 19-year-old man died at Good Samaritan Hospital on Sunday night.
The man disappeared while swimming in the lake at about 5:30 p.m. and was under water for more than 15 minutes before he was located.
It was not clear what caused the man to go under. His name has not been released.
All i can say is that I am sooooooo glad that almost 4months have passed by before God allowed me to come across this site, full of some comments with sincerety, and other full of ignorance....saying someone should wear a vest is fine, but saying somehow my DEAD son didn't take responsibility for his actions, or that he was a weak swimmer, just breaks my heart.....but how dare I be sad because he just got what he deserved right????? Like I stated before, HEARTLESS has a whole mew meaning to me now.
Â
Signed Marques" mother
Â
Rest, dance, sing, run, smile in Paradise my baby boy, I love you more than life and miss you more than my next breath.
RIP to Bubba, I LOVE YOU, PLEASE SEND SOME BLESSINGS TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE YOU, and for all the IGNORANT PEOPLE WITH INCORRECT THOUGHTS ON THIS YOUNG MAN.. WATCH YOUR MOUTHS
You know, it's really sad that people are talking badly about him. His name was Marques Weekly and he was a friend of mine. My parents knew his father as well. Marques was a good influential kid. He was always singing and dancing in our church choir, he loved to make people laugh and smile. He even made an effort to met every single person he passed by. And yes, he could swim, how do you think he got out 30 feet. Did you ever stop to think that maybe he got hypothermia, or got a cramp or even got tired from swimming that. Maybe people should save their negative comments and stop judging Marques, seeing as how many of you never knew him. So please, I ask that you keep negative comments to yourself as his family, friends, and I grieve over him. Thank you.
To see people are so rudely disrespecting someone who drowned and passed away. Honestly yes, he choosed to go swimming. Yet accidents happen and no one expects this will happen to themselves. So instead of bashing that it was his fault and he should have known better. Why don't you think of the family and friends hurting from him passing away and put yourself in their shoes to see the pain. Honestly he knew how to swim, but something went wrong.
This is soo sad.... I was at the lake yesterday with our church..... we had church service and baptisms. where members of the church and anyone in the public that chose, was invited to join us and give their lives to Christ, and be baptized. WOW I am so sad to hear this news. I didn't know this young man but my heart is so sad for his friends and his family
I dont get when one person dies.. there are all these people quick to judge him. Like as if you were there and you knew what happened. I know Marques.. We called him Bubba.. I am very good friend with his mother. Let me tell you something if you dont know something dont comment. You shouldnt voice your negative comments at all. He was a good kid never got into trouble wasnt into drugs, could sing his tail off and was a polite young man and always respected his mama.Â
This boy that you are speaking about so harshly has a name it was Marques. He was a friend of my sons and a cousin of his best friend. He was a wonderful, smart young man. He was a talented musician and performed in the musicals at his high school before he graduated this spring. He had a family and many friends that loved him. He will be missed dearly. This was nothing more than a tragic accident that happens far too often. The day after a child dies is not the time to voice your negative comments.
Â
 @optimistically hopeful I agree with you. Its funny how people dont know marques or wasnt there. are assuming what happened...
 @optimistically hopeful Marques will be missed! My prayers go out to the family and everyone affected by his passing.
Lake Tapps is so murky, even if there were life guards it would still take a while for them to find the person. And they allow too many people into the parks around it that even when you are trying to watch your kids in the water it is hard to see due to so many heads in the water, thats why when mine do go in they have life vests. But highly unlikely that a 19 yr old would use a life vest when swimming.
These tragedies happen mostly at the county park on the north end of the lake. The general swimming area is roped off to boating traffic and there are big signs saying there is no lifeguard on duty and that you swim it is at your own risk.
Pierce county had to fight tooth and nail to get the funding to patrol this park for this summer and they only can continuously patrol it on the weekend. There is NO EXTRA money for lifeguards. If you want to fund lifeguards at this lake the fees will have to go up which means more people avoid the fees by walking around the dike side on the west end of the park.
The other thing to consider is that the swimming area is fairly large. A lifeguard might not be able to get to the person until it is too late and then what happens is that the family sues the park for NOT saving their child.
The county park doesn't need a lifeguard. People need to not be intoxicated when they go swimming and they need to be responsibly for their own actions.
And you are assuming that my son was intoxicated?????? Please speak of what you know otherwise keep your FALSE opinions to yourself, because you know hat they say about assuming!!!
Â
Signed Marques' mother
Honestly , lets all stop talking about this young man drowning lets think about the family and friends that will miss him. Have a heart people make mistakes doesn't mean he didn't know how to swim.. End of discussion. Its reality there need to be people on duty and people need to more cautious when swimming. But that doesn't end the fact that His family will never see him again .
Lake Tapps has too many places where people can get into the water other than the parks. Â Lifeguards will not save you if you are stupid. Â The police have cut back on patrols, as well. Â There is no money for lifeguards and police to monitor the kids driving too fast in daddy's boat. Â
What do you mean daddy's boat??? Ingorance is not attractive, know that facts before you speak out,.
Â
signed Marques' mother
@Patches Pal The location in the picture is the county park... so not a factor in this accident.
Asking for Life Guards??? Are you kidding parents....For goodness sakes parents, wake up and see to it that your kids are wearing LIFE VESTS...You cannot sink period!!Â
Look you cannot sink wearing life jacket's and by this NO ONE HAS TO DIE!!! Life guards are not the vests that will save your live. They too have to dive in and go to the bottom to get your kids. WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS not matter how hot the day is!!
Â
@reelin21 Just a reminder, in this case this was not a child ... he was 19 years old. I doubt he would have worn a life jacket if he didn't want to, no matter how many times his mom told him to.
Some of the snarky comments here are disgusting! Shame on anyone who wrote rude remarks about personal responsibility and how this ruined it for everyone, blah, blah, blah. Â
Â
The parents, siblings, family and friends of the young man are suddenly facing his loss that they probably never expected. Their lives will never be the same.Â
Â
My thoughts are with them and with him. Rest in peace.
I guess there is another benefit of it cooling down; possibly fewer drownings.
I really hope this person pulls through having to drownings today and pray for the family that they will find comfort
Unfortunately he did not pull thru, but thank you for you kind words, and prayers.
God Bless you
Â
signed Marques' mother
Lake Tapps is a killer lake. This is the 2nd or 3rd victim this year alone. They need to have life guards and swimming areas. Signs need to be posted to warn swimmers of the extreme conditions of this lake.
@Magic 8 Ball  People need to take some personal responsibility. This wan't a small child who doesn't know any better than to do something above thier ability level.  Lake Tapps is a killer lake, always has been, and this year seems to be taking more lives than usual. Life guards aren't going to fix the problem- people wising up is the only thing that will help- if you are not a strong swimmer stay out of the lake, stay where you can reach, swim with a partner who is a great swimmer, and wear a freaking life jacket- who cares if it looks cool or not- pics of you in your coffin aren't verry cool.
Well momOf2, this mother or child who is no longer here with me, sharing the love, smile, great talent, love of God and people no matter race color or creed...my son who you obviously DO NOT KNOW, was extremely athletic, and a great swimmer since the age of 5...no one know what happened in that water that causes my dailey tears and heartache, NO ONE but Marques and God!!!!! God forbid that a tragedy ever happens to one of your children, whether they are young or older.
Â
Signed Marques' mother
 @MomOf2  @Magic i wonder if they posted signs about the dangers around the lake if that would help. At the Grand Canyon they have signs all around about the dangers of trying to hike there unprepared, even with stories about those that didn't make it. If my memory serves me well, I think some might even have a tally of the number of deaths per year.
Â
At least that would remind people of the dangers.
@MomOf2 +1! thats what I said about the previous drownings here. Its posted that there is no life guard. People taking personal responsibility seems to be a dying thing
This is going to make some people mad but I am gonna say it anyways. They took the floating dock away because so many people have drowned in Lake Tapps in the last year- yet here it is again just 2 weeks later and another person drowns. When are people going to take some responsibility for themselves and quit runing it for others? (by the way this is not at all directed towards the young man from BLHS). I am tired of everything fun being taken from the majority because the few can't use it responsibly.Â
How touching for a mother to think before she speaks, oh maybe is mother, father, sister, brother, or hundreds of many friends , teachers, community leaders, or family members will read you heartless comments, oh I guess the (btw statment) erases all the "taking the fun away for others" statement you previously stated. My prayer is that you will NEVER experience my pain, but God forbid you have to bury one of your children, I pray that no one will be heartless while addressing the circumstances surrounding the death.
Â
Signed Marques' mother
 @MomOf2 Hard to take responsibility when you're dead. Nice, Mom.
@WWRJD They should have taken personal responsibility before getting in the damn water. While its sad they died, they suffered the consequences of their own actions.
Thank you,
Â
Signed Marques' mother
How wonderful for you to KNOW that my son didn't take responsibilty for his actions, umm I don't remember him coming back and blaming anyone or anything for his tragic accident....heartless has a whole new meaning to me after reading some of these comments made about my child.Â
Â
Signed Marques' mother
You can read my other comments, I never realized until reading some of these heartless comments about my son and his drowning accident, that people can use their power of words to be so cruel. Now that's sad, because one thing about my son was that he always took responsibilty for his actions, good or bad, oh but sorry if he's not here to take it now...smh
Â
Signed Marques' mother
@SilverGryphon YOU ARE VERY IGNORANT.. RIP TO my cuzin BUBBA, A good kid that was a role model to other kids that knew him, NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL USE...
 @WhatsonTapps I am not sure what you consider dense, but to expect a 19 year old to stay up to date on local events and watch the news at all times, instead of enjoying teenage life, is a little dense. Those of you who are belittling this young man after he has passed should be ashamed of yourselves. State your opinion in an educated manner, to help, not to hinder or downsize. There are several people that come here to this lake that have never heard of it, and it is their first time being at the lake, so to have such expectations of any one person to be aware of previous events here is a little naive. I live just across the way from the park area and can say that the water is mostly clear but can be very unpredictable. At times it can be quite cold and still, an other times warm but very choppy and active. My children do swim in it but under my supervision, and my weak swimmers with a life jacket. The lack of supervision by a lifeguard is confusing considering how many wealthy people live on the lake and surrounding areas, I personally would be happy to pay a small fee to accommodate swimmers with safety while enjoying the lake. I just moved here from California so I too was not aware of the deaths that have happened here. I am not sure why lifeguards would not be present at the park areas, and yes even one lifeguard can watch over several hundred (speaking as a beach bum from Cali with thousands of people on the beach at one time). I"m dragging on, I know, but even with lifeguards to help out, accidents still happen. Being aware of your own swimming abilities and your children's, and enforcing a life jacket at the lake is the best thing we can do. My heart goes out to his family.
 @WWRJD You are obviously a very dense person. This lake kills and EVERYONE knows it. This 19yr old should have known that since it is in the NEWS that this lake kills. I don't allow my son to go swimming alone in this lake because this lake KILLS. This park has signs that say "No lifeguard on duty, swim at your own risk". He knew and unfortunately he didnt take that into consideration.
Yes, this young person obviously didn't take responsibility for his own actions and now his friends and family have to pay the price.
 @SilverGryphon  @TehHawt Yup, she called it. Ayn Rand.Â
@TehHawt You know what, if they would have taken personal responsibility for their safety, this wouldn't be an issue.
 @SilverGryphon  @WWRJD Do you have proof this NINETEEN year old knew this?  Could you possibly spare us your harsh words for maybe 24 hours?  Do you have humanity, or is it all Ayn Rand with you?
Fred Meyer had life jackets on sale today for $14.99. Â They may not be sexy but they save lives. Â I hope this person pulls through.
@NWNative I too hope the guy pulls through BUT what I really hope is that people would start being responsible- if you are not a strong swimmer stay where you can touch, and swim with someone who is a strong swimmer.Â
 @MomOf2 Mom of 2, eh?  This was a 19 year old, and you don't know if they were locals or not.  Remind us all to blame you if something horrible happens to your kids because after all, it's personal responsibility.
 @TehHawt Did MomOf2 blame the parent of this young man? She is merely saying that she wishes people would realize how dangerous it is to be in deep water when you're not a strong swimmer. Nothing wrong with that comment.
Â
And for the record, this young man was a local, and swimming with a friend.
Human body temp is 98.6
Outside temp is 91.0
Lake Tapps temp is 49.4
Â
Hypothermia sets in at 76.0
Â
Higher if your susceptible.
Â
No mystery here.
@Mesh Lake Tapps water 3 feet down is 70 degrees measured today. Tired of hearing the water is so cold. Tapps might be cold in April but in August its one of the warmest lake west of the cascades. If you can't swim wear a life jacket- its very simple! Â
What a sad day of events today to read about numerous swimmers that needed rescues, and some of them may not make a full recovery. Reports of young kids to older adults.
The nice hot weather is great to get out and enjoy the water. But for many it turned tragic. So sad.....