SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Two people died in separate incidents on Sacramento County waterways on Saturday.
A scuba diver died hours after he went missing in the water near the Walnut Grove Bridge, the fire department told KCRA 3.
A recreational dive team was on a boat on the Sacramento River around 12:40 p.m. when one of the divers entered the water. The divers did not see the man again before they called 911. Authorities found him a couple of hours into their search. Life-saving measures were attempted, but authorities said it was determined the diver had not used any of the air in his tanks.
And on the American River, Thelma Gomez, 37. was airlifted to the hospital after being rescued about a mile from where she fell into the water. Authorities said Gomez, who lived in Concord, later died at the hospital. She fell in near the El Manto Access Point and was found about a mile down the American River from that location and taken to the hospital by helicopter, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District told KCRA 3.
Authorities said the river flow is moving quickly and to be careful while out on the water.
Saturday’s two deaths come the same week a body of a man who drowned in Folsom Lake was recovered. The man fell off a jet ski last Saturday in the Granite Bay area of the lake, authorities said.
Authorities are warning people to always wear a life jacket as water-related accidents can happen suddenly and rapidly. Several places have life jackets available to the public. See all locations here.