Authorities are still searching for a man who went missing Saturday after he helped a woman who was struggling in the water at Lake Mead.
Three women jumped into the lake from a rented pontoon boat carrying 12 people at around 9 a.m. on Saturday, but one began to struggle in the water, the Nevada Department of Wildlife said in a media release.
That’s when the now-missing man, who was not identified, jumped into the lake with a throwable flotation device to assist her, according to the release.
The woman used the flotation device to return safely to the boat, but strong winds caused the boat to drift away from the man, according to the department, which conducted initial searches. He initially appeared to be floating on his back and not in distress, but was later observed submerging and resurfacing once before disappearing beneath the water, the release said.
Officials said the incident occurred at a part of Lake Mead estimated to be between 125 and 175 feet deep.
“This incident is a tragic reminder of how quickly conditions can change on the water,” Chris Walther, a game warden lieutenant with the department, said in the release. “Strong winds, distance from a boat, fatigue, and other factors can quickly turn an enjoyable day on the water into an emergency. We encourage everyone to wear a properly fitted life jacket and be prepared for changing conditions.”
The National Park Service is leading search and recovery efforts, including additional searches held over the weekend, the release said.
The department urged boaters to wear a life jacket, check weather and wind forecasts before launching their boats and exercise additional caution when winds are high.
Contact Spencer Levering at slevering@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0253.
