Man drowns in Echo Lake

PALMER — A man drowned Thursday evening while swimming in a small lake just off the Glenn Highway.

Alaska State Troopers identified the man as Anthony Donald Dalbeck, 24, of Anchorage.

Palmer Fire Chief John McNutt said that the initial call came in from people who had been swimming in Echo Lake — a small body of water across the highway from the Kepler-Bradley Park. It was unclear to McNutt what exactly happened.

“They noticed that something was wrong with him out in the water,” McNutt said.

In the trooper account, witnesses say that Dalbeck got tired and went under.

“Alcohol was believed to be a contributing factor in the incident,” troopers report.

One of the man’s companions managed to get him to shore. By the time the first ambulance arrived, he was halfway out of the water, McNutt said.

McNutt said four people were in the group of swimmers, two men two women. Medics attempt to revive the man but were unsuccessful.