Lewis & Clark County Sheriff/Coroner Leo Dutton has identified Wayne Harris as the man who died at at the causeway near Hauser Lake on Sunday, July 2, 2023.
Harris, 58 years old, was from Helena. According to Dutton, Harris and his girlfriend were test-driving a jet ski and working on it; they did not have life jackets on.
At some point near the area of the Causeway, Harris turned the jet ski sharply causing the 51-year-old woman to fall into the water.
While trying to help her back onto the jet ski, Harris fell in as well. The jet ski started to drift away from them and the two attempted to swim after it.
The woman realized they would not catch it. She swam toward shore and looked back, seeing Harris go under the water.
At around 4:00 p.m. 911 Dispatch received calls about two people on a jet-ski in trouble near Bay View Drive.
Charlie Weber was on shore at the time and saw Harris and his girlfriend in distress.
Weber put on a life jacket, swam out with two lifejackets and was able to get to the woman and help.
Dutton has credited Weber with likely saving the woman’s life.
First responders showed up shortly after, but rescue efforts were not able to reach Harris in time.
The official cause of death is asphyxia due to drowning. A toxicology report is pending.
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