LAS VEGAS - The National Park Service has concluded its search and rescue efforts for the missing boater on Lake Mead and will transition to a search and recovery operation tomorrow. The missing man who is now presumed drowned is identified as Ruben Aguirre-Martinez, 38, of Las Vegas.
Today park rangers assisted by Nevada Department of Wildlife game wardens continued the search for Aguirre-Martinez. The search resumed at 6 a.m. and continued until 4 p.m. when it was suspended for the day. Tomorrow park rangers will continue to search the area for the man's body. After tomorrow, the search will be scaled down to searches during normal patrols of the area.
"Given the witness reports, how long he has been missing, the water temperature, and weather conditions we believe that the probability of finding Aguirre-Martinez alive is very unlikely," said Andrew Muñoz Lake Mead National Recreation Area spokesman.
Aguirre-Martinez went missing at about 8 p.m. last night and was last seen in the water without a life jacket just outside Callville Bay.
Aguirre-Martinez and two other men were boating in the Callville Bay area. He and one other were in the boat while one was being towed on an inflatable raft. The man on the raft decided to come in so they stopped the boat. The other man in the boat jumped in the water to pull the inflatable in. He needed assistance pulling in the inflatable so the boat driver, Aguirre-Martinez, jumped in to assist. They then realized the boat and raft had drifted away.
The man who was on the inflatable was the only one with a life jacket. He took it off to share, however now the Aguirre-Martinez has drifted away from the pair. They reported last hearing and seeing him around 8 p.m.
The National Park Service received the first report of three men missing at around 7:30 p.m. Rangers responded with two boats and located the reporting party's location around 8:30 p.m. and began their search. Two of the men were rescued by a passing boat and brought in to Callville Bay. They were not injured.
Next of kin has been notified.
- NPS -
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
