A tragic drowning incident at Bartlett Lake in Arizona resulted in the death of a 21-year-old Phoenix man on Saturday. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) confirmed the recovery of the man's body on Sunday evening after an extensive search operation, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. The victim, who was attempting to walk across a cove with friends, lost his footing in water that was unexpectedly deep, estimated at approximately 15 feet, and cold water temperatures were believed to have contributed to his inability to resurface.
The MCSO dive team was notified about the incident at around 4:30 p.m. However, there is no clear information as to why there was a four-hour delay before divers entered the lake to begin their search. The victim, known to be a capable swimmer, was not wearing a life jacket when the incident occurred, prompting an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the drowning, according to 12 News. Rescue efforts also included boats in the vicinity of the cove attempting to assist the drowning man, with at least one friend attempting to help but having to swim back to shore due to his own struggle.
The identity of the man has not been disclosed pending notification of his next of kin.
