BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. - The National Park Service suspended the search for John Silva, age 42, of El Monte, Calif. He is presumed drowned. Park rangers responded at 4:30 p.m. today after receiving a report of a man going underwater after jumping off a boat.
Silva was last seen on the Nevada side of Lake Mohave across from Katherine Landing. Bullhead City Fire Department divers searched the area at a depth of about 100 feet. The underwater operation was suspended after about 2 hours of searching.
Witnesses state that he jumped into the lake from the boat to cool off. Soon after going into the water he began to struggle to stay afloat. Silva was not wearing a life jacket. His friend jumped in to help but wasn’t able to get to him before he went under.
Rangers are currently assessing their options for continuing the recovery operation tomorrow.
An unrelated incident on Sunday claimed the life of 38-year-old Las Vegas resident, Jose Rivas. Rivas was killed in a personal watercraft (PWC) collision near Six-Mile Cove on Lake Mohave.
Witnesses state that the other PWC hit him broadside near shore sending him into the water. Bystanders were able to pull him to shore after which he lost consciousness.
He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was turned over to the Clark County Coroner.
The operator of the other PWC was arrested by Nevada game wardens for operating under the influence of alcohol.
“The two main messages we stress are wear your life jacket and boat sober. The preliminary investigations indicate these two deaths were preventable," said Lake Mead National Recreation Area Chief Ranger Mary Hinson.
“We want our visitors to leave here happy and relaxed. These events are tragic and unfortunate. Our thoughts are with the families," said Hinson.
Rangers expected approximately 200,000 visitors to Lake Mead National Recreation Area over the holiday weekend.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
