Woman drowns after life vest comes off while swimming in Arizona lake, deputies say
A woman drowned after her life vest came off while she was swimming in an Arizona lake, deputies say.
The woman jumped from a boat to take a swim in Lake Havasu in the afternoon of Sunday, March 10, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
However, when she hit the water, deputies said “her improperly secured life jacket came off.”
The woman panicked and sank below the water’s surface, deputies said.
When divers from the sheriff’s office team initially searched the lake, they did not find the woman, deputies said.
Upon searching the waters again using sonar technology, deputies said divers found the woman 42 feet below the water’s surface.
Deputies identified the woman as Cynthia Marin, 49, of La Mesa, California, adding that an investigation is ongoing.
Lake Havasu is on the border of Arizona and California.
Drowning
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
This story was originally published March 11, 2024 at 11:02 AM with the headline "Woman drowns after life vest comes off while swimming in Arizona lake, deputies say."
