Fatality: Twenty year old male presumed drowned at Placer Cove

Date: July 19, 2012
Contact: Randy Lavasseur, 702-423-2596

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA News Release

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2012
Release No.: 2012-27
Contact: Randy Lavasseur 702-423-2596

Fatality: Twenty year old male presumed drowned at Placer Cove

LAS VEGAS - On July 18, 2012, at approximately 4:05 pm, The Interagency Communication Center received a 911 call reference a twenty year old male who was swimming in the waters of Lake Mojave near Placer Cove, within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The male was found underwater and pulled to shore by bystanders.

Bystanders found the male not breathing and he did not have a pulse. They began CPR and called 911. Park Rangers arrived on scene and began providing advanced emergency medical care. Despite the efforts of bystanders and National Park Service personnel the male did not survive. He was not wearing a personal flotation device. Park Rangers are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the presumed drowning.

Place Cove is a heavily populated area of the park with a lot of shore line recreation. The National Park Service advises wearing a US Coast Guard approved personal flotation device anytime while recreating in the water regardless of the waters depth.

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Randy Lavasseur
Assistant Chief Ranger
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Office: 702.293.8817
601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, Nevada 89005