Boater who drowned in American Lake in Lakewood is identified by medical examiner
A 65-year-old man who drowned in Lakewood’s American Lake last month after he went missing while boating was identified Wednesday.
Vladimir Matkovskiy of Federal Way died of asphyxia due to freshwater drowning, the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a news release. The office ruled his death an accident.
The man was fishing on his own in a small, non-motorized boat on Feb. 19, Lakewood Police Department’s Lt. Chris Lawler said Wednesday. He said the death was an accidental drowning. There were no witnesses, so investigators may never find out how he ended up in the water.
It was windy and choppy on the lake that day, but Lawler said it’s not known if that contributed. Lawler said residents on the lake and the first officer who responded heard someone yelling for help.
Rescue crews from West Pierce Fire & Rescue and Lakewood Police Department began searching for Matkovskiy at about 6:50 p.m. The Coast Guard joined the search, but only a life jacket and a partially submerged boat were found.
Matkovskiy’s car was also found near a launch area. When police talked with his family, they were told he was overdue to return from fishing.
The Pierce County Metro Dive Team searched the next day without success. On Feb. 21, the dive team went out again and found the man 77 feet underwater.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 11:20 AM.
