News Release

Body recovered from Lake Crescent

Date: June 23, 2023
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

PORT ANGELES, WA- On June 21, at approximately 6:25 PM, Olympic National Park in conjunction with Christian Aid Ministries, a non-profit organization from Berlin, OH, recovered Travis Valenti's body from Lake Crescent. Christian Aid Ministries began searching Lake Crescent around 8 AM using boat-mounted sonar technology. Once the group acquired a high probability find of the body, Olympic National Park was notified, and two Park Rangers were dispatched in a boat to meet the group on the lake. 

Christian Aid Ministries then used a remote operated vehicle (ROV) to locate the body in the water. The body was found at a depth of 394 feet. The ROV was equipped with a grabber tool, which allowed them to bring the body to the surface. Mr. Valenti’s body was brought aboard the National Park Service boat and then brought ashore. The coroner's office was notified, as well as the family of the victim. 

On June 9, 37-year-old Travis Valenti from Massapequa, New York was kayaking with his fiancée when his kayak began taking on water. Mr. Valenti attempted to continue paddling but ultimately had to abandon his kayak and entered the water. As Mr. Valenti’s fiancée attempted rescue, her kayak overturned, resulting in her also entering the water. She was able to swim to shore but unfortunately Mr. Valenti struggled and could not. 

Lake Crescent is a deep and very cold body of water with surface water temperatures near 50-degrees this time of year. Sudden immersion into cold water will impact a person’s breathing and over time, their ability to move extremities. Swimmers are encouraged to use a buddy system. Boaters should always wear a life jacket and understand the risks of recreating on large bodies of water, such as underwater hazards, wind, waves, and water temperature.