RANCHO CORDOVA- Sacramento County emergency crews continued to search for a swimmer along the American River in Rancho Cordova Saturday afternoon who did not resurface after he was seen going under water.
At approximately 11:30 am Saturday units from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District were dispatched to the area of the Clay Banks access where the man was last scene.
Originally, up to ten units responded to the incident to aide in the search, including one helicopter. As of early afternoon the number of active units had been reduced to searchers on the ground and a Sac Metro Boat 65 that continued their efforts in what later became anrecovery effort.
Late afternoon, the man’s body was found and dive teams removed his body out of the water. The identity of the victim has not been released at this time.
“This is a worst-case scenario,” said Parker Wilbourn, of Sacramento Metro Fire. “It’s devastating. Absolutely devastating that one person is not going to be going home today.”
The Clay Banks area of the American River as been the location of several water rescues and five drownings this year. Officials urge river goers to take the extra safety step and wear a life jacket. In the five fatalities that have taken place this year already in the unpredictable waters near Clay Banks, none of the victims were wearing life jackets.
