8-year-old drowns at Steel Lake Park

An 8-year-old boy died after drowning at Steel Lake Park in Federal Way, Washington, and his body was recovered from the lake on Wednesday morning, authorities said. Federal Way police are leading the investigation after the child went missing on Tuesday. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death an accident and listed the cause as drowning. Officials have not released the boy’s name or further details about what led to the incident. ### When did the child go missing, and when was he found? Tuesday evening, emergency crews were dispatched after the child was reported missing at Steel Lake, according to KOMO. The search continued into Wednesday, when dive teams recovered the boy’s body from the water. (fox13seattle.com) Wednesday morning, the recovery operation ended after King County Sheriff’s Office dive teams located the child in the lake, KOMO reported. FOX 13 Seattle reported that the boy died on Tuesday and that his body was recovered the next morning. ### What do authorities say happened at the lake? (komonews.com) Police shore cameras showed the child on shore removing his shoes before he waded into the water, KOMO reported. The footage then showed him briefly at the start of a dock before he moved out of view. KOMO reported that the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance remain unclear. (komonews.com) FOX 13 Seattle said police have not released details about what led to the drowning. ### Which agencies responded to the search? The Federal Way Fire Department launched what KOMO described as a large-scale rescue response that included several mutual aid agencies. (komonews.com) Rescue swimmers searched the lake for an extended period but did not find the child during the initial effort. King County Search and Rescue later conducted a ground search of the surrounding area while water search efforts continued, KOMO reported. FOX 13 Seattle said the King County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit assisted in recovering the body and that South King Fire also responded. (komonews.com) ### What have investigators confirmed about the death? The King County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed on Wednesday that the child was an 8-year-old Federal Way boy, KOMO reported. The office ruled the death an accident and determined the cause of death was drowning. (komonews.com) FOX 13 Seattle separately reported that the medical examiner confirmed the drowning and listed the death as accidental. That outlet cited the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, the King County Sheriff’s Office and its own reporting. ### Who is handling the investigation now? The Federal Way Police Department is now leading the investigation, according to FOX 13 Seattle. (komonews.com) KOMO also reported that Federal Way police are investigating the incident. Officials have not said whether any additional information will be released, and no public timeline for further updates was included in the reports. (fox13seattle.com) As of Wednesday, the confirmed next step was the continuing Federal Way police investigation with assistance from the agencies that responded to the search.