Fish Lake boater still missing

An unidentified Spokane man remained missing and presumed drowned Saturday, a day after he fell off a sailboat in Fish Lake.

Divers searched for the victim for about five hours Saturday, said Spokane County sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

At about 4:50 p.m. Friday, the victim fell overboard after wind pushed the watercraft’s boom to one side, tipping the 14-foot vessel. A male co-worker in the boat threw the man a flotation cushion, but wind blew the cushion and the boat away from him. The man disappeared before his friend could return.

Reagan said he is not sure if there will be enough diving personnel to continue searching today.

The department is also having a hard time contacting the man’s relatives, who live on the East Coast, he said. If 48 hours pass before relatives can be notified, his name will be released, Reagan said.