California teen dies after lake swim. High-elevation water is very cold, sheriff warns

Thaddeus Miller
·2 min read

A 19-year-old from the Los Angeles area recently died after getting separated from his family while hiking and swimming near a cold Madera County lake in the Sierra Nevada, deputies said Thursday.

The teen was with his father and others on Aug. 10 near Thousand Island Lake, which is part of the Ansel Adams Wilderness in eastern Madera County, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

His family called 911 about 8 p.m. that day after he had been separated from them for about eight hours, the sheriff’s office said. He swam from the shore at around noon, headed towards an island in the lake, deputies said, but had not been seen since.

The lake is located at an elevation of 9,833 feet and is surrounded by 10,000-foot peaks, the sheriff’s office noted.

Search and rescue teams found the teen and called for emergency help at the lake, the sheriff’s office said.

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services called for military helicopter assistance and a crew from Naval Air Station Lemoore responded for medical assistance.

By the time the helicopter arrived, the 19-year-old was pronounced dead, the sheriff’s office said. The helicopter took the teen and his father to Fresno Yosemite International Airport, where they were met by officials, the news release said.

Officials used the tragedy to remind those looking for recreation to be aware of potential dangers. The high-country alpine lakes are extremely cold even if the Valley floor sees 100-degree days, the release said.

At Thousand Island Lake, the overnight lows are in the low 40s and the lake itself is fed by glaciers from Mount Ritter and Mount Banner.

Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue issued a statement following the death.

“On behalf of the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, I extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the young man during this tragic time,” the statement said. “Incidents like this are truly heartbreaking, and some of the hardest calls we conduct as first responders.”

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