Man dies when raft capsizes off Washington coast

[July 09, 2012]  ILWACO, Wash. (AP) -- A 55-year-old Seattle area man has died after his inflatable raft capsized in the ocean in southwest Washington.

Pacific County Sheriff Scott Johnson said Sunday that John Beaumeir of Woodinville was rafting with a friend in the surf off of Benson Beach at Cape Disappointment State Park when their raft capsized several times in the rough waters.

The two managed to get back on board, but the raft capsized again and partially deflated. Beaumeir became separated from his friend, 28-year-old Israel Anderson, who managed to hold onto the raft and paddled to shore Saturday afternoon.

A surf rescue team spotted Beaumeir unconscious in the ocean, and rescuers attempted to resuscitate him. He was taken to Ocean Beach Hospital in Ilwaco where he died.

Both Beaumeir and Anderson worked as nurses at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

[Associated Press]

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