Young flood victim was a popular athlete

The young man killed Monday in the swollen Cowlitz River while hunting near Mount Rainier was remembered Tuesday as a popular high-school athlete, a joker, an aspiring firefighter and a friend with "the best hug in the world."

Andy MacDonald, 19, graduated from Highline High School in Burien, where he played soccer, wrestled, was president of his junior class and was homecoming king. He was known there as a kid who was kind to all, friends said.

"Everyone will say he was a really great guy who was very funny without being mean, always made you smile and gave the best hugs," said Erik Drydal, whose memorial Web page for MacDonald on Facebook has had hundreds of visits since news of his death.

MacDonald, who lived with friends in West Seattle, was hunting elk with cousins and uncles when he was swept into the Cowlitz River early Monday after the river bank collapsed beneath his pickup truck, officials said.

MacDonald, also known as "Andy Mac," had been working in construction with his father while he worked toward becoming a firefighter, said friend Jake Van Ackeren.

"He had a great smile," Van Ackeren said, "and everyone loved him."

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com