Boy drowns in ‘Pot Holes’ area of Lacamas Creek

An 11-year old boy who drowned in the “Pot Holes” area of Lacamas Creek was with friends at the Jack, Will and Rob Boys and Girls Club, in Camas, before they left to go swimming.

The body of Anthony Seitz, of Vancouver, was recovered from an area south of the Lacamas Lake Dam July 19, at 4:30 p.m., and taken to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. Foul play is not suspected, according to the Camas Police Department.

Crews from the Camas Police and Fire departments, as well as the Washougal Fire Department, East County Fire & Rescue and the technical rescue team from Clark County Fire District 6, were dispatched to Lacamas Park around 3 p.m.

The drowning was witnessed by three juveniles who were at the scene.

Melissa Froman, director of resource development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area, released a statement Wednesday saying Seitz was not on a field trip with the club.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland has an open door policy,” she said. “This means that members are free to enter and leave the Club. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardian to instruct their child as to whether they can leave or not.

“All of us at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland are heartbroken over this tragedy,” Froman added. “Our sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with the family as they cope with this loss. We will be cooperating fully with public safety officials as they investigate yesterday’s events.”

According to Scott Deutsch, manager of risk management and safety for the Evergreen School District, Seitz graduated from Mill Plain Elementary School in June and he was going to be a sixth-grader at Shahala Middle School in the fall.