Lake Chelan Drowing Victim Recovered in 250 Foot Deep Water, Went Missing July 4

Like many northwest lakes and rivers, Lake Chelan is a very inviting place to recreate, but you always need to be careful on the water.

   Drowning Victim Located, Retrieved Over the Weekend

This week, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office released information that the body of a 43-year-old man who went missing July 4th had been recovered.

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Dustin Hauanio was last seen on a friend's boat, he dove off to go swimming, but then disappeared. Reports indicate friends noticed he was gone for about five minutes, then began to worry and look for him.  The CCSO was notified about a possible drowning, and called in search and dive teams, as well as their Maritime Unit.

    The Man Was Located 200 Feet Down

Searchers were able to pinpoint what appeared to be a body well below the surface, but too deep for the divers to get to.  The Seattle Police Department's Harbor Patrol assisted by bringing in their ROV, or remotely operated vehicle, which is capable of search and retrieval at extreme depths. The initial search crews, using sonar and other detection tools, were able to map the area where he was located.

Seattle PD Harbor Boat--CCSO

Hauanio was in the custody of the coroner, who confirmed it was a fresh-water drowning.

   Lake Chelan Is One of Deepest in the US

Naturally formed by glaciers thousands of years ago, Lake Chelan is the 3rd deepest lake with a maximum depth of 1,486 feet in places, right behind Lake Tahoe, and Crater Lake, which is the deepest at 2,148 feet.