Big Bear Lake, CA — Breaking news as of Monday, July 5, 11am hour: Big Bear’s emergency personnel are currently on scene in Boulder Bay, at Big Bear Lake’s west end, attending to a possible drowning incident. The Big Bear Municipal Water District’s Lake Patrol received the alert call at 10:48am and, in the 11 o’clock hour, responders have included Lake Patrol, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and all three local fire agencies: Big Bear Lake and Big Bear City Fire Departments and the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The Sheriff’s Department’s dive team has been in the water near Boulder Bay Park, searching for the victim, whose age, identity and gender have not yet been released. Water temperatures are in the low 60s in Big Bear Lake today. We will bring you more information on this incident as it becomes available.
Update: As of 11:45am, a Sheriff’s Department helicopter is also on scene, to locate the victim, who has been identified as an 18-year-old male. He and two friends of similar age attempted the swim from the beach (just off Highway 18) toward the large boulders of Boulder Bay, about 100 yards away. The young man allegedly struggled with the swim, and apparently did not make it. Lake Patrol was on scene by 10:52am, after hearing the 911 call at 10:48.
Update: Just before 1pm, the MWD reports that the body of the young man has been recovered, and will be airlifted to Loma Linda. His identity has not yet been released.
Update: The victim in today’s drowning incident has been identified as an 18-year-old white male resident of Yucca Valley. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. He was found in approximately 15 feet of water, with a lake temperature of 64 degrees.
Update as of July 6: The San Bernardino County Coroner’s office has identified yesterday’s drowning victim as 18-year-old Nathaniel Wayne Hopper of Yucca Valley. Hopper was pronounced dead at 12:50pm, per paramedics on scene during the incident.
