Man dies in possible drowning

SANDPOINT — A 60-year-old man died Monday after attempts by civilians and emergency personnel to save his life were unsuccessful.

According to the Bonner County Sheriff's Office, Brian A. Flewelling and his wife were swimming in Lake Pend Oreille to cool off when their boat drifted a bit in the wind. He became fatigued as he swam and couldn't make it to the boat or to the shore.

"The patient had been taken out of the water and put on the back of a pontoon boat," said Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS Capt. Britain Whitley. "There were some people on scene, some bystanders, who were doing CPR and an AED had been given to them just prior to our arrival by a marine deputy."

Selkirk crews responded to the incident and took over the life-saving efforts. The incident was reported off of Eureka Road in the Bottle Bay area. 

Whitley said it was reported about 100 feet offshore when the call came through, so Selkirk's Station 1 crew from Sandpoint responded in the district's fireboat. Selkirk's Station 3 crew from Sagle responded as well, but the boat made it to the scene faster due to the location. 

After the fireboat crew arrived, Whitley said they moved Flewelling to a private dock and continued CPR for 35 to 40 minutes before he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.