The Sacramento County Sheriff's dive team recovered a body from the American River on Saturday. The victim, a man believed to be in his 30s, had gone underwater near Rancho Cordova and failed to resurface, as reported by ABC10.

Initial emergency responses came in following a water rescue attempt around noon, with Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District officials later confirming the tragic discovery. Having transitioned from rescue to recovery operations, the unfortunate revelation marked the fifth drowning incident in the region this season as per a statement given to CBS News Sacramento.

The circumstances of the incident were further detailed by fire officials who noted the man had been playing in the water along the Clay Banks before the event. Not wearing a life jacket, he became submerged in what crews described as "challenging terrain" with hazards like cross currents hidden from view. "Several individuals did reach out and try to effect a rescue but they were exhausted and had to retreat back to shore," said Parker Wilbourn with Sac Metro, as per CBS News Sacramento.

Recognizing the dangers posed by the river's unpredictable conditions, Sac Metro officials repeatedly stress the importance of wearing life jackets. "So this is an absolute worst-case scenario for this individual. It's a tragic event and it's something we say over and over: please wear your life jackets," Wilbourn told CBS News Sacramento in an interview. The body, having been underwater for several hours, was eventually located via helicopter downriver from Rossmoor Bar and recovered by the Sheriff's dive team.

As the community deals with another loss, officials stress the importance of safety. They recommend wearing life jackets and suggest that if you see someone drowning, throw them something that can help them float and call 911 right away. Trying to rescue them yourself could put you at risk.