The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office issued the following statement this morning that includes the injured victims' names and their conditions. One is in critical condition at a Spokane hospital; the other was treated and released from Kootenai Medical Center. 

"Sheriff’s Office investigators have a much better understanding of what happened in the drowning incident yesterday at Spirit Lake.

According to the investigation August J. (A.J.) Marksworth, 16 of Spirit Lake and Nathan T. Thiers, 15, also of Spirit Lake were at the mill pond area of Spirit Lake when they decided to wade across the mill pond. Most of the area is four to five feet deep, however, parts of the pond are seven to eight feet deep. As they were wading across the pond, Marksworth stepped into an area that was about eight feet deep. According to family members, Marksworth is not a good swimmer. Thiers went to Marksworth and tried to pull him to shallower water, but after about 30 yards, both subjects became very tired and let go of each other. Marksworth then sank to the bottom.

Thiers reported that he was in the water no more than an additional 4 minutes before being rescued by a private individual in a kayak. A sheriff’s deputy then arrived on scene along with Spirit Lake Fire personnel. The deputy, Robert Bjelland, dove into the water and recovered Marksworth from the lake bottom and transferred him into the fire boat where CPR was begun.

Marksworth was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center by Medstar Air Ambulance and as of last reports, is in critical condition. Thiers was transported to Kootenai Medical Center and was treated and released."

Rocky Watson, Sheriff

By: Major Ben Wolfinger