On 9-6-2014, at 1824 hrs, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Boating Safety Unit Officer Steve Heyde was patrolling on Shasta Lake when he was dispatched to a possible drowning in the Squaw Arm of Shasta Lake. The Victim was on a houseboat with 9 other people, and the houseboat was moored to the shore. The Victim had been swimming earlier in the evening. Witnesses said the Victim dove into the water off the lower back deck of the houseboat (the area ranges from 15 to 30 feet in depth). The Victim did not return to the surface. Witnesses attempted to search for the Victim, but were unable to locate him due to depth and murkiness of the water. Witnesses estimated the Victim had been in the water 10 minutes prior to calling dispatch. Boating Safety Sgt. Troy Clegg was also notified of the possible drowning and had additional Boating Safety Officers and Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team members called out.
At 1845 hrs, Boating Safety Officer Heyde arrived on scene and obtained additional information justifying a nighttime diving operation. The additional Boating Safety Officers and the Dive Team members arrived on scene, and a diving operation commenced. After approximately 25 minutes, the divers located and retrieved the Victim in 20 to 30 feet of water.
The Victim was turned over to the Shasta County Coroner’s Office. The Victim’s cause of death is currently unknown, pending an autopsy.
– Press Release
