Authorities recover, identify man who drowned in Merced County river

A man who drowned in a Merced County river on Sunday, after reportedly rescuing a struggling juvenile. has been identified by authorities as Jessy Anyelo Gamez-Cabrera, 34, of Richmond.

.Merced County sheriff deputies responded to the George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday for a report of a possible drowning. Merced County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Domingue said witnesses said the man entered a section of the Merced River to rescue a male juvenile. After the juvenile was removed from the water, the man reportedly began to struggle, went under the water and did not resurface.

Authorities said a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit responded to assist in the search for the man but both aviation and drone teams were unable to locate him. The Merced County Sheriff’s Office Water Rescue and Recovery Team responded to the scene and divers began searching for the man shortly before 4 p.m..

Domingue said divers located the man within about 10 minutes in about 11 feet of water near the area where he was last seen. Gamez-Cabrera was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said Gamez-Cabrera was visiting friends and family members at the park. According to Domingue, the water flow was not dangerous at the time of the drowning, but areas of the river bottom dropped off steeply to deeper depths.

“With the recent raised water pressures over the summer, that changes the sandy bottoms all the time,” Domingue said. “That bottom is always altering and changing.”

Domingue said the juvenile was taken to area hospital for observation following the incident.

Authorities urge people to use caution when entering the water and to wear a life jacket when swimming.

“If you can’t swim, stay out,” said Domingue “If you think you’re a strong swimmer, still wear a life jacket. With the deceptive bottoms, you can fall into a hole and not be prepared for it, suck some water in and go into a panic mode.”

Earlier this month, an elderly woman drowned after entering the Merced River in the area of Shaffer Bridge, north of Winton.