Divers Called Out For False Alarm

Kootenai County sheriff’s divers dispatched four rescue boats Wednesday night after a woman who swam to shore from what authorities believe was a Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise boat said her husband was also in the lake and needed help.

The man was later found safe on the Third Street boat dock, Coeur d’Alene police Officer Pat Sullivan said.

Two witnesses were walking along City Beach late Wednesday when they heard a woman screaming for help.

“She kept saying `help me, help me.’ She wasn’t far out in the lake. It seemed like it was a joke.” Marriah Patterson, 18, said.

John Daniels, 19, who was also on the beach helped the woman onto shore. She was transported to Kootenai Medical Center.

The woman was well-dressed and said she was having trouble breathing, people on the beach said.

“She was screaming `help me find my husband, I can’t breathe,”’ said Katie Roberge, 19, who was among the group on the beach relieved to learn the man was found safe.

“It was an extreme relief. That’s all we were worried about,” Roberge said. “And we hope she’s fine” too.