Article and Video by Robert Callis, Stringer Media
On Saturday afternoon, Sheriff Rescue Units responded to a possible drowning that occurred around 1:48 pm. Big Bear Lake Patrol received a report of multiple persons overboard near Halloways Marina and RV Park in the Metcalf Bay area of Big Bear Lake.
The Big Bear Fire Authority and San Bernardino Sheriff’s Dive Team were dispatched to the incident along with multiple San Bernardino Sheriff Deputies. According to officials at the scene, one person was retrieved from the water and was reported in stable condition. A second person was not located, and search operations had begun. The Sheriff’s Dive Team recovered the drowning victim using sonar later that evening. The victim was located 31 feet below the lake surface.
Apparently, both victims had been on a pontoon boat with several other subjects when they dove into the lake. Almost immediately, both victims began having trouble swimming and needed to be rescued.
Water conditions during the search and recovery were approximately 53 degrees with near zero visibility. At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, the victim was located, and was transported back to shore and the Coroner notified.