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Two deaths occur on area lakes

Brian Walker | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 8 months AGO
by Brian Walker
| July 27, 2013 9:00 PM

Two North Idaho males died on Thursday as a result of separate incidents on area lakes.

Gaelen C. "Connor" Mast, 19, Kingston, died on Thursday night after a swimming incident on Rose Lake, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office.

Shelby D. Cunningham, 51, Rathdrum, died while at Twin Lakes on Thursday afternoon.

KCSO Lt. Stu Miller said both incidents were originally reported as possible drownings. However, he said medical conditions may have played a role in both deaths.

Miller said Mast had been swimming with friends on Rose Lake when he didn't surface.

After about one minute, Mast was pulled from the water by his friends and CPR was immediately initiated.

Members of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Rose Lake Quick Response Unit, Coeur d'Alene Fire Department and Shoshone Ambulance responded to the 23500 block of E. Park Road at 7:50 p.m.

After a resuscitation effort was made on scene, Mast was airlifted by MedStar to Kootenai Health, where he was pronounced deceased.

The incident occurred at a dock off Park Road. Miller said it's unclear how deep the water was from where Mast was pulled.

"We didn't put anyone in the water; he was on shore when we arrived," Miller said. "He may have had a pre-existing medical condition."

Miller said on Friday that he did not know whether alcohol was suspected to be a factor.

In the Twin Lakes incident, which was reported between the village and a bridge, Cunningham was transported by the Northern Lakes Fire District to Kootenai Health, where he was pronounced dead, according to the KCSO.

Miller said the KCSO responded due to a report of an unconscious male on the lake.

"It appears to have been a combination of a medical event coupled with drugs or alcohol," Miller said.

No more information on the incident was available from the KCSO and Northern Lakes on Friday. The KCSO did not take a report due to Northern Lakes transporting Cunningham to the hospital.

Investigations on both cases continue. Toxicology reports, which can take four to six weeks, are pending.

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