News
Unusually high and swift water prevented searchers from retrieving the body of a man who drowned in the South Yuba River Friday afternoon.
The victim has been identified only as a 20-year-old man from Auburn, who reportedly slipped from a rock into the river at about 2:55 p.m. Friday, and never surfaced.
Nevada County Sheriff's Office, CHP (H-20 helicopter), State Parks, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District and North San Juan Fire all responded to the incident at the river at the Highway 49 bridge, between Nevada City and North San Juan.
A sheriff's dive team searched for the man for several hours, but efforts to recover his body were called off at dusk. Sunday, the body still had not been recovered due to the extremely high flow of the river.
The scenic bridge and large granite boulders make the area popular for summer recreation, but the water — melted snow rushing down from the high Sierra Nevada — can quickly overcome even expert swimmers.
The rock in question is well-known to search and rescue teams and was the site of a fatal drowning in May 2009. It actually rests on several smaller boulders, not on the river bed, and there is a gap that creates an underwater chute. When the river is low, daredevils often swim the chute, but in high water, it acts to create a deadly suction, especially when it is choked with debris.
“We had three incidents (at the river) Friday,” said Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal. “There are very unsafe conditions ... I don't know what it's going to take for people to understand that swimming in the river is dangerous.”
A kayaker was able to rescue a swimmer in trouble Sunday morning in the South Yuba River. “The person had gotten banged up and was stuck on a rock,” said North San Juan Fire Capt. Rainy Blue Cloud. “He was fine.”
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4229.
The victim has been identified only as a 20-year-old man from Auburn, who reportedly slipped from a rock into the river at about 2:55 p.m. Friday, and never surfaced.
Nevada County Sheriff's Office, CHP (H-20 helicopter), State Parks, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District and North San Juan Fire all responded to the incident at the river at the Highway 49 bridge, between Nevada City and North San Juan.
A sheriff's dive team searched for the man for several hours, but efforts to recover his body were called off at dusk. Sunday, the body still had not been recovered due to the extremely high flow of the river.
The scenic bridge and large granite boulders make the area popular for summer recreation, but the water — melted snow rushing down from the high Sierra Nevada — can quickly overcome even expert swimmers.
The rock in question is well-known to search and rescue teams and was the site of a fatal drowning in May 2009. It actually rests on several smaller boulders, not on the river bed, and there is a gap that creates an underwater chute. When the river is low, daredevils often swim the chute, but in high water, it acts to create a deadly suction, especially when it is choked with debris.
“We had three incidents (at the river) Friday,” said Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal. “There are very unsafe conditions ... I don't know what it's going to take for people to understand that swimming in the river is dangerous.”
A kayaker was able to rescue a swimmer in trouble Sunday morning in the South Yuba River. “The person had gotten banged up and was stuck on a rock,” said North San Juan Fire Capt. Rainy Blue Cloud. “He was fine.”
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4229.
