Search for Chelan drowning victim is scaled back

The search is being scaled back for the 23 year old Seattle man presumed drowned in Lake Chelan according to Rich Magnussen with Chelan County Emergency Management.  The Chelan County Marine Patrol unit will be searching the lake Friday for Donghoon Lee but the search efforts will not include dive teams any longer.  Magnussen says volunteer divers from Chelan and Stevens County have spent many hours using underwater cameras but say they are saddened to have not made a recovery for his family's comfort.   Lee's family is expected to arrive from South Korea on Sunday to see the area where their loved one disappeared.

Lee attended the University of Washington on a student visa from South Korea and was swimming with friends from a rental boat when he disappeared Tuesday off the area known as “Three Fingers” in choppy lake conditions.  Magnussen said at the time incident was reported. 20-30 mph winds with stronger gusts were forming 3 to 4 foot swells with white caps on Lake Chelan.  Magnussen called the conditions difficult for even a strong swimmer.  The lake runs 30 to 40 feet deep in that area.