Man presumed drowned at Lake Mendocino

Man presumed drowned at Lake Mendocino

By GLENDA ANDERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 5:53 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 5:53 p.m.

A 20-year-old Redwood Valley man is presumed to have drowned after disappearing Tuesday while camping along Lake Mendocino.

Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies and park rangers searched the water and shoreline unsuccessfully for the man, whose identity was being withheld pending family notificiation, said Sheriff’s Capt. Kurt Smallcomb.

The man and a friend had camped overnight at Lake Mendocino, he said. In the morning, they discovered that their small motorboat had drifted about 40 yards from the campsite.

The friend, Paul Hansen, did not see his friend swim to the boat, Smallcomb said.

The missing man told him he was going after the boat, then disappeared, he said.

Hansen notified lake officials that his friend was missing and possibly drowned at 8:31 a.m., Smallcomb said.

Divers searched the waters in the area until about 5 p.m., when the search was called off for the day, he said.

The search will continue Wednesday, Smallcomb said.

I'm imagining Lake Mendo water being around 50 degrees right now...   

Last time I was there it was 70 degrees during the day. Sunday two weeks ago. Thats amazing when those unseemingly smalla ctions turn to tragedy. Terrible news.

I swam there a few weeks ago, too...  water was chilly but not frigid.  Hard to imagine someone drowning after a 40 yard swim.

If you panic or have a leg cramp, it can be game over pretty quick.

Blimey, that's just horrible. I wouldn't have thought twice about swimming 50 yds in Lake Mendocino.

Amazing that they looked all day and didn't find him? I can't imagine there's a whole lot of current to carry him off?

40 yards or 4000 yards... totally not the point.  If he wasn't h20 competent, he had no business going after a boat no matter the distance or how warm/cold the water.  So sad, tragic, and a young kid too!  20 yo.  eeek.  RIP

40 yards or 4000 yards... totally not the point.  If he wasn't h20 competent, he had no business going after a boat no matter the distance or how warm/cold the water.  So sad, tragic, and a young kid too!  20 yo.  eeek.  RIP

I think the distance was one of the main factors in this case.  If it's 4000 yards out I think he wouldn't go for it.

I think the distance was one of the main factors in this case.  If it's 4000 yards out I think he wouldn't go for it.

That's a good counterpoint.  I tend to look at it like you are able to swim or not able to swim, irrespective of the distance. 

The buddy reported him missing at 8:30am...  No telling how long he waited before contacting authorities, but I'd imagine some time had passed...  Still pretty cold up there at say 7:30am.

So sad.

When we launched there a couple of weeks ago at 6am the water temp was still at 67 and rose up to 70 during the day. This lake is still. medical condition or  altered state of mind me thinks

20years old....

could be, "altered state of mind"

had a few of those trips when I was in my early 20's

strange they didnt find him?

His boat was about 40 yards off the shore when it appears he went to get it, and "altered states" are not suspected. Still no sign of him. If you're familiar with the area, it's right in front of the square concrete block that's on the shoreline between the South boat ramp and vinegar point. I figure Sunday or Monday he'll pop up. Sad, but we get about one every other year.