Body of missing Lake Chelan swimmer recovered after nearly two-week search

CHELAN — The body of a man who disappeared while swimming in Lake Chelan on the Fourth of July has been recovered after a nearly two-week search that brought together specialized equipment and personnel from law enforcement agencies across Washington and neighboring Idaho.

Chelan County Chief Deputy Coroner Faye Fetters identified the man as 43-year-old Dustin Hauanio of Mill Creek. Chelan County Coroner Earl Crowe ruled the death accidental, caused by freshwater drowning.

Hauanio disappeared July 4 after jumping from a boat to swim about two miles downlake from Lake Chelan State Park. Friends told dispatchers they lost sight of him about five minutes later, prompting an immediate search by Chelan County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol, Lake Chelan Fire & Rescue rescue swimmers and nearby boaters. Despite searching until that evening, crews were unable to locate him.

As the search entered its second week, the effort expanded well beyond Chelan County. Specialized equipment arrived from agencies across the region, each contributing capabilities unavailable locally. Douglas County PUD deployed its remotely operated underwater vehicle during the initial phase of the search, while the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office provided a dive team and side-scan sonar. When the lake's extreme depth required additional resources, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office in Idaho brought a second side-scan sonar system that located and marked an object approximately 250 feet below the surface.

That discovery led to the final phase of the operation. On July 17, Seattle Police Harbor Patrol deployed its remotely operated vehicle to examine the object, confirming it was a human body before successfully recovering the remains from the lake bottom.

The sheriff's office said the coordinated effort by agencies from across the region ultimately made it possible to bring Hauanio home to his family, thanking each organization for providing the specialized equipment and expertise needed to complete the recovery.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media