RANGERS RESCUE TWO LAS VEGAS RESIDENTS FROM LAKE MEAD
LAS VEGAS - National Park Service rangers rescued two Las Vegas residents this evening from Lake Mead just after dusk. Both were on a small raft that was blown away from shore at Boulder Beach.
Rangers responded at 8:12 p.m. and located the 57-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman approximately 450 yards from shore.
"We were already heading down to sweep the beaches to close them when the call came in," said Supervisory Park Ranger Eric Provencher. "When we got to the beach a man came up to me screaming and pointing offshore. I could barely see two heads above the water about 350 yards from the beach."
The two were visiting Boulder Beach with family and friends. The rescued man stated to rangers that he had purchased the raft and life jackets just hours before going to the beach. He said watched an orientation video that came with the raft.
Rangers rushed from the beach to Boulder Harbor to launch their rescue boat.
"When we arrived on scene, I could see that the woman’s life jacket was too big. If the raft had deflated and they ended up in the water, she would have slipped right out of her life jacket and could have possibly drowned," said Provencher.
The National Weather Service reported 6 to 9 mph winds out of the west-southwest. The pair did try to paddle back to shore; however they could not overcome the winds.
"We recommend that pool toys such as inflatable lounges, floats, and rafts stay in the pool," said Andrew Muñoz, spokesman for Lake Mead National Recreation Area. "It’s a big lake and when winds pick up you can easily find yourself hundreds of yards from shore with no way of getting back."
The pair were rescued by 8:22 p.m.
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APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF RESCUE:
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
