A 25-year-old Lynnwood man died early Saturday morning in the Yakima River.

Deputies say they received a call around midnight. Tylor McFarland, 25, his 17-year-old stepsister and another friend, plus their dog were rafting in the river about 8 miles west of Cle Elum when they hit a log that sent them into dark fast moving water. The stepsister and the friend told officers that all three of them resurfaced and were trying to swim to shore when they lost sight of McFarland. A neighbor in the area called 911 after hearing cries for help.

Deputies and firefighters found the stepsister, friend and dog stranded on the far side of the river near a fallen tree. Members of the Kittitas County Sheriff's Dive Team recovered McFarland's body from the river-bottom about 30 feet from riverbank at around 4:00 a.m.

The survivors told deputies they frequent the family cabin just West of where the incident happened and float the river often, the last time being two weeks prior.

Deputies say alcohol was involved in this incident and none of the rafters were wearing life jackets.

The tree they hit had fallen across the current sometime in the past week.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends for their loss. We remind people of the risks associated with rafting at night and recommend wearing life jackets. We also encourage people to contact the Sheriff's Office Marine Unit for information on current conditions and regulations," said a release from the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office.

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