Tragedy struck the Niles District of Fremont on Tuesday when an Alameda Creek drowning claimed the life of a local man. Responding to a 911 call around 5 p.m., emergency services launched a search operation for a person seen struggling in the water. The victim, now identified as 26-year-old Franklin Mabuyo of Hayward, was reportedly attempting to swim across the creek before succumbing to the waters.
According to an Instagram post by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office (ACSO), a wide array of emergency responders, including the East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD), Fremont Police, and both Alameda County and Fremont Fire departments, coordinated efforts in the rescue attempt. Specialized units like the ACSO Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) units and a dive team were deployed. The assistance from the Alameda County Water District lowered the creek's water level by six feet to aid in the search.
Despite the concerted measures, the effort turned from rescue to recovery when the Alameda County Dive Team located Mabuyo's body later that evening. Officially pronounced deceased at approximately 10:30 p.m., his body was retrieved and turned over to the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau, where no signs of trauma or foul play were discovered. "We want to thank all the agencies and our personnel involved in this challenging and heartbreaking recovery mission," a representative from the ACSO stated in their social media update.
Photos shared by the Fremont Fire's A. Knowles on Instagram captured the intense search efforts throughout the evening. The Alameda County Coroner's Bureau has notified his next of kin as they continue to investigate his untimely demise.
