A swimmer drowned near the Hirz Bay Boat Ramp at Lake Shasta on Saturday afternoon, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said.
The victim was identified as 29-year-old Luis Cornejo-Paz, of Concord. Officials said his next-of-kin have been notified.
Authorities said they responded to an area of the Hirz Bay Boat Ramp at about 1:20 p.m. on Saturday after a report of a possible drowning, a statement from Shasta County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tim Mapes said on Monday.
Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office Boating Safety Unit, the Dive Team, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, United States Forest Service, medical personnel and California Highway Patrol Air Operations all responded to the call.
Deputies learned that a 29-year-old male had been swimming in approximately 30-40 feet of water while towing an inflatable kayak with two people on board. The man began struggling and calling out for help before going under the water, witnesses said.
Witnesses said they searched for the man, but were unable to locate him in the murky water.
The two people on the watercraft were not injured and made their way safely to shore, authorities said, while members of the Dive Team located the victim approximately 2 and a half hours later in 11 feet of water.
Michele Chandler covers public safety, dining and whatever else comes up for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Accepts story tips at 530-338-7753 and at mrchandler@gannett.com. Please support our entire newsroom’s commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: The Concord man drowned while swimming on Lake Shasta on Saturday