Park Worker Dies Trying To Save Duck

A park worker died when he waded into a children’s fishing pond to rescue a wounded duck.

Juan Alvarez, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene Saturday after divers found his body in about 10 feet of water.

A duck had become wrapped in fishing line, and Alvarez walked into the pond at Sportsman Park to try to retrieve it. He reached the middle of the pond, about 30 feet from shore, when his head went under.

“At some point (Alvarez) got tangled in the weeds and the muck,” said Deputy Bill Splawn of the Yakima County sheriff’s office.

“His feet came up a couple of times and then he went under for good.”

Splawn said he did not know whether Alvarez sank in the mud, slipped or fell into a deeper section. He did not know whether Alvarez knew how to swim.

The duck’s fate was not known.

Park Ranger Dave Thornton said no supervisors were at the scene when Alvarez went into the pond.

Two other park employees were helping to rescue the duck. One worker called 911 after Alvarez was under for more than 90 seconds.

The other worker tried to rescue Alvarez but wasn’t able to reach him. He was later taken to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, where he remained overnight. He was released Sunday morning.

Greg Chapman of Bremerton, who was staying at the park, also dived in to save Alvarez.

“I would dive under and sweep my arms and legs,” Chapman said. “Hopefully, I would get lucky and hit him. I was in there for about five minutes.”