The incident occurred on Friday, June 9 in Washington State’s Olympic National Park in Lake Crescent, according to the National Park Service. The lake is about 100 miles northwest of Seattle.
Travis Valenti, a 37-year-old Long Island resident of Massapequa, was kayaking with his fiancée near the log cabin resort when his kayak started to take in water, according to park officials .
He attempted to paddle to shore but eventually had to abandon his kayak and ended up in the water. At that time, the water temperature was close to 50 degrees.
Valenti’s fiancée, identified as Marlene by friends, tried to approach the man, but her kayak capsized and she ended up in the water with him, officials said.
The woman was able to swim a quarter of a mile to shore, but Valenti struggled and was unable to land, according to park officials. Neither was wearing a life jacket.
Log Cabin Resort employees searched Valenti for several hours using motor boats, as did park rangers and members of the Clallam County Fire Department. However, they found no trace of the man.
A second search the next day was also unsuccessful. Valenti was presumed dead, according to a statement from the National Park Service.
Crescent Lake near the accident site is approximately 400 to 500 feet deep.
Officials have warned that sudden immersion in such cold water can affect a person’s breathing and make it difficult to move their arms and legs.
In the days since the accident, friends and loved ones have paid tribute to Valenti on social media, with friend Neena Marie remembered for her “pure heart, absurd sense of humor and contagious joy”. hold him.
“He blesses all who knew him,” she wrote Facebook“An incredible friend, brother, son and fiancé, loved by all.”
According to his cousin, Valerie Trompeter, Valenti and Marlene had just gotten engaged two days before the accident.
“A tragedy has struck our family. My cousins, Travis Valenti and Marlene, were vacationing in DC. They got engaged on Wednesday and are excited to start their lives together,” Trompeter wrote Facebook.
Friends also created a to fund me Movement to help pay for the dive team and equipment to try to find Valenti’s body.
“The family is clearly distraught and wants their son’s body returned to New York,” the campaign wrote.
As of Thursday, June 15, the fundraiser has raised over $43,300.Those wishing to support the campaign can do it here.
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