At 3:17 p.m. a 911 call originating at Lake Mead was routed to the Clark County Fire Dispatch Center. The caller said a group of friends were boating and tubing on Lake Mead. One of the visitors, 43-year-old, Louis A. Martinez of Brooklyn, New York, jumped into the lake to cool off. He was not wearing a life jacket. He went under the water and disappeared from view. It took his friends about 15 minutes to find him and pull him out of the water. The Clark County Fire Dispatcher gave the caller instructions on how to perform C.P.R. The caller told the Clark County Fire Dispatcher that the group was near Lake Mead Marina. The caller then told the Dispatcher he thought they were near Las Vegas Boat Harbor. The Clark County Fire Dispatcher then notified NPS Dispatch of the distress call and possible location(s) of the party. Rangers began searching the Boulder Basin area of Lake Mead from Lake Mead Marina south to Las Vegas Boat Harbor.
About 28 minutes later, the reporting party called 911 a second time. The cell call was again routed to Clark County Fire Dispatch who immediately transferred the call to the NPS Dispatch Center. The NPS Dispatcher gave the caller C.P.R. instructions. The experienced NPS Dispatcher was able to discern the group was actually at Las Vegas Bay. Rangers and Mercy Air 7 were dispatched to that area and arrived on scene at about 3:36 p.m. Mercy Air 7 medics continued resuscitative efforts.
At 4:28 p.m. all life-saving efforts were terminated by Mercy Air Medical Control. The Clark County Coroner is on scene and will determine the exact cause of death.
Rangers want to remind all visitors how important it is to at least have a general idea of where you are while in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The time spent looking in an incorrect location, can mean the difference between life and death. Rangers also want to stress the importance of wearing life jackets while swimming in Lakes Mead or Mohave.
This was the 20th fatality at Lake Mead National Recreation this calendar year. If it is determined by the Clark County Coroner that this was a drowning, it will be the 8th drowning of the year. In 2005 there were 6 drownings and a total of 25 fatalities.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
