SPOKANE -- A man pulled from the Spokane River near Boulder Beach in Spokane Valley died Friday.
Witnesses say a man and a woman were trying to swim across the river. The woman made it, but the man went underwater. According to the Associated Press, two Gonzaga students on paddle boards pulled the man out of the water and brought him to a private dock.
The man was under for several minutes before they could reach him. CPR was performed before he was taken away in an ambulance. He was declared dead Friday night.
Authorities say drugs or alcohol could have been factors in his death.
The victim's identity has not been released.
Police say he was not wearing a life jacket.
Anthony Fernandez went for a swim at Boulder Beach Saturday. He said, it is generally a calm spot, but it would also be a challenge to swim all the say across the river.
"I just go a little ways, until it is deep enough. Then I just swim on back, I don't even want to mess around on the water," Fernandez said.
Spokane County sheriff's deputies conducted an emphasis patrol Saturday on the river. Anyone not wearing a life vest was susceptible to a $76 ticket.
