The Associated Press
TWISP, Wash. A Florida man drowned while fly fishing in the Methow River near Twisp over the weekend.
Timothy J. Welch, 51, of Lakeland, Fla., had waded to the middle of the river near the Highway 20 bridge at the south end of Twisp on Saturday when he apparently lost his footing and fell into the water, Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said.
Witnesses told deputies that Welch attempted to swim toward shore but went under and began floating downstream.
A local resident, Michael R. Reithofer, 62, saw Welch go under and was able to reach him and pull him to shore, Rogers said.
His efforts to resuscitate Welch failed and emergency workers also were unable to revive the man, Rogers said. The sheriff said he did not know if Welch had been wearing hip boots, which can fill with water and hinder efforts to get to shore.
