LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Search efforts are underway for a boater who went missing Saturday morning after assisting a woman who was struggling in the water at Lake Mead.
At approximately 9 a.m. June 6, three adult women jumped into the water from a rented pontoon boat carrying 12 people, according to a release from the Nevada Department of Wildlife. When one of the women began struggling in the water, a man jumped in to assist her and brought a Type IV throwable flotation device from the boat.
Officials say the woman was seen using the flotation device to return safely to the boat. While passengers worked to assist the swimmers back aboard, strong winds caused the boat to drift farther away from the man in the water.
According to witnesses, the man initially appeared to be floating on his back and did not appear to be in distress. He was later observed submerging and resurfacing once before disappearing beneath the water.
Search efforts
The National Park Service is leading search and recovery efforts. Nevada Department of Wildlife game wardens responded Saturday morning and conducted an initial search of the area. Additional search efforts by NPS personnel continued over the weekend but have not located the missing boater.
Windy conditions at the time of the incident created challenging conditions on the water, officials say. The area where the incident occurred is estimated to be between 125 and 175 feet deep.
“This incident is a tragic reminder of how quickly conditions can change on the water,” said NDOW Game Warden Lieutenant Chris Walther. “Strong winds, distance from a boat, fatigue and other factors can quickly turn an enjoyable day on the water into an emergency. We encourage everyone to wear a properly fitted life jacket and be prepared for changing conditions.”
Safety reminders
Nevada law requires vessels measuring 16 feet to 40 feet in length to carry at least one Type IV throwable flotation device in addition to wearable life jackets for each person on board. In this incident, the throwable flotation device helped a struggling swimmer safely return to the vessel.
Boaters are encouraged to check weather and wind forecasts before launching, wear a life jacket and exercise additional caution during periods of high wind.
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