22-year-old swimming with friends drowns at California pond, firefighters say
A 22-year-old man died after vanishing while swimming with friends in a pool in the Los Padres National Forest, California officials reported.
Roberto De La Cruz of Santa Barbara was found dead July 12 at Red Rock Pools, a popular swimming hole, the coroner’s bureau of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said on Twitter.
De La Cruz went missing while swimming with friends at the pool earlier that day, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said on Twitter.
The group found him and pulled him to shore, but he could not be revived, firefighters said.
The Red Rock Pools are swimming holes a half-mile from the trailhead, the U.S. Forest Service said. They “can be crowded with visitors on weekends.”
The Los Padres National Forest encompasses almost 2 million acres, rangers said. It’s located north of Santa Barbara in Southern California.
What to know about drowning
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
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