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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend June 13, 2006 Portland teen drowns in Willow Lake A Portland teenager drowned in Willow Lake Monday when he and family members stopped for an afternoon swim while returning from a wedding in California. Patrick Falepapalangi, 16, drowned in about 12 feet of water, just 100 feet from the shore in the designated swimming area at the Willow Lake County Park, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters said. Authorities estimated water temperatures at between 44 and 48 degrees. Patrick and his older brother, Trutalanoa Falepapalangi, 21, were driving back to Portland after a weekend wedding, Winters said. Other family members, including the pair's parents, followed in a separate car. The young men wanted to check out a local lake and headed for Crater Lake. On the way, they concluded it was too far off the highway, so, after consulting a map, they decided to go swimming in Willow Lake instead, Winters said. John Meenaghan, camp manager at Willow Lake, said the two brothers and a younger cousin arrived at the park at about 4:15 p.m. and paid a day-use fee of $3. About 4:40 p.m. Meenaghan was returning from the park's Willow Lake Resort store on the golf cart he uses to motor around the park when he heard the older brother shouting "He's in the water! He's in trouble!" Meenaghan raced back to the store and called 9-1-1 on the park's only phone line. When he returned to the swimming area, some fishermen from Klamath Falls had come over in a boat and taken Trutalanoa Falepapalangi to where his brother had disappeared beneath the surface of the lake. Meenaghan said Patrick was "a big strong-looking boy," more than 6 feet tall. Winters said Patrick, who was an inexperienced swimmer, had started swimming toward a platform in the swimming area and gotten about 100 feet from shore before yelling for help and going under. Butte Falls Fire and Rescue crews arrived quickly as did a sheriff's department forest deputy who was in the area. "They all got here very quick, but it was hopeless," Meenaghan said. "Nothing could be done." The forest deputy and the fishermen located Patrick's body and marked the spot shortly after 5 p.m. The sheriff's marine unit brought a boat and divers recovered the body by 6:25 p.m., Winters said. Authorities used a satellite phone to call the Falepapalangi family and notify them of the accident so they could stop in Medford, Winters said. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy