tenderloin
07-03-2009, 09:53 PM
Alhambra man believed to have drown at Big Bear Lake
Wes Woods, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun
Posted:07/03/2009 09:37:32 PM PDT
BIG BEAR -- Sheriff's Department divers have called off the search for a 33-year-old Alhambra man who apparently drowned Saturday in Big Bear Lake after he jumped in to help a swimmer in trouble, a Dpartment spokeswoman said.
Divers plan to return to the lake at 6 a.m. Saturday to resume the search, said Department spokeswoman Cindy Beavers.
The lost swimmer, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, is described at a 33-year-old Asian man from Alhambra, Beavers said.
Beavers said a group of people rented a boat and were about 300 yards off the shore when a man jumped into the lake to cool off.
When the man began struggling in the choppy waters, a second man jumped in to help him and he also began struggling.
"It was windy and the water was rough," Beavers said.
A third man then jumped in to help both men. The first and third men made it back to the boat but the second man went under, Beavers said.
The Big Bear Lake Patrol called the Sheriff's Department about 3:25 p.m. Friday after they received a call at 3:15.
The first diver from the sheriff's department dive team arrived to the scene in about 30 to 45 minutes and the search was called off about 7 p.m, Beavers said.
Beavers cautioned about people jumping in after others if they are not good swimmers.
"Throw them a life vest or some sort of life saving device. Don't jeapordize any other lives. It's just natural for people to react and quickly into life-saving mode. And it's just tragic. We hear these same stories every summer. These people were probably not familar with the lake conditions. Because it's my understanding in the afternoons, it's typical for the wind to pick up and cause the water to become choppy."
wes.woodsinlandnewspapers.com
Wes Woods, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun
Posted:07/03/2009 09:37:32 PM PDT
BIG BEAR -- Sheriff's Department divers have called off the search for a 33-year-old Alhambra man who apparently drowned Saturday in Big Bear Lake after he jumped in to help a swimmer in trouble, a Dpartment spokeswoman said.
Divers plan to return to the lake at 6 a.m. Saturday to resume the search, said Department spokeswoman Cindy Beavers.
The lost swimmer, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, is described at a 33-year-old Asian man from Alhambra, Beavers said.
Beavers said a group of people rented a boat and were about 300 yards off the shore when a man jumped into the lake to cool off.
When the man began struggling in the choppy waters, a second man jumped in to help him and he also began struggling.
"It was windy and the water was rough," Beavers said.
A third man then jumped in to help both men. The first and third men made it back to the boat but the second man went under, Beavers said.
The Big Bear Lake Patrol called the Sheriff's Department about 3:25 p.m. Friday after they received a call at 3:15.
The first diver from the sheriff's department dive team arrived to the scene in about 30 to 45 minutes and the search was called off about 7 p.m, Beavers said.
Beavers cautioned about people jumping in after others if they are not good swimmers.
"Throw them a life vest or some sort of life saving device. Don't jeapordize any other lives. It's just natural for people to react and quickly into life-saving mode. And it's just tragic. We hear these same stories every summer. These people were probably not familar with the lake conditions. Because it's my understanding in the afternoons, it's typical for the wind to pick up and cause the water to become choppy."
wes.woodsinlandnewspapers.com