A 29-year-old kayaker who died Tuesday, a day after his boat overturned between the Key Peninsula and McNeil Island, has been identified as Matthew Grobins.
The Lakebay man and a friend were thrown into the water about 7:30 p.m. Monday after their boat capsized in Pitt Passage. The friend made his way to shore and called for help. Searchers found Grobins and pulled him from the water after about an hour and took him to St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, where he died.
The kayak flipped when one of the men reached for something, authorities said. The men were unable to right the boat after several tries, so the friend told Grobins they needed to swim to shore, Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said. Grobins reportedly refused to leave his kayak.
stacia.glenn@ thenewstribune.com
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