Alhambra man apparently drowns trying to save friend
BIG BEAR - Officials called off the search about 1 p.m. Saturday for an Alhambra man who apparently drowned trying to rescue a troubled swimmer in Big Bear Lake.
Rough waters and heavy boat traffic on the lake made the lake unsafe for divers and interfered with sonar equipment, San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers said.
The 33-year-old man, whose identity was not released Saturday, jumped into the lake from a boat shortly after 3 p.m.Friday to try to help another man from the boat who had gotten into trouble while swimming in choppy waters, Beavers said.
A third man from the boat jumped in to try to help, but only the first and third men made it back to the boat, she said.
The Alhambra man went under and has not been seen since, Beavers said.
"He is presumed dead," she said.
Divers searched for the man until about 7 p.m. Friday, then resumed the search in the 27-foot deep lake with eight divers at dawn Saturday until it was called off in the afternoon, officials said.
The search would likely continue at sunset Sunday, Beavers said.
The rented boat was about 300 yards from shore when the incident occurred, she added.
Those on the boat were believed to be a group of friends, she said.
Beavers said the waters of Big Bear Lake can be turbulent at times, especially during the high winds of the afternoon.
"If you're not a strong swimmer, you can get in trouble really fast," she said.
Rough waters and heavy boat traffic on the lake made the lake unsafe for divers and interfered with sonar equipment, San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers said.
The 33-year-old man, whose identity was not released Saturday, jumped into the lake from a boat shortly after 3 p.m.Friday to try to help another man from the boat who had gotten into trouble while swimming in choppy waters, Beavers said.
A third man from the boat jumped in to try to help, but only the first and third men made it back to the boat, she said.
The Alhambra man went under and has not been seen since, Beavers said.
"He is presumed dead," she said.
Divers searched for the man until about 7 p.m. Friday, then resumed the search in the 27-foot deep lake with eight divers at dawn Saturday until it was called off in the afternoon, officials said.
The search would likely continue at sunset Sunday, Beavers said.
The rented boat was about 300 yards from shore when the incident occurred, she added.
Those on the boat were believed to be a group of friends, she said.
Beavers said the waters of Big Bear Lake can be turbulent at times, especially during the high winds of the afternoon.
"If you're not a strong swimmer, you can get in trouble really fast," she said.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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