CROSBY, Texas – A man drowned in the San Jacinto River while he attempted to rescue a woman who was swimming late Sunday night, deputies with Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.
It happened at the Xtreme Off Road Park and Beach on Gulf Pump Road and Beaumont Highway in Crosby.
Deputies said multiple people were riding their ATVs and 4-wheelers through a wooded area.
At some point, witnesses saw a woman who was swimming in the river but she began screaming for help as the current apparently tried to pull her away from the shore.
Update: this morning, at about 1:17am, @HCSOTexas dive team members recovered the body of the man who went missing after going underwater. https://t.co/kCtdkA4jLS
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) June 26, 2023
As the woman screamed for help, several men jumped into the water to save her. One of the men did not return.
“It’s always tragic,” Lynn Henderson said.
According to Maj. Jamie Razo with HCSO, the Marine and Dive Unit were called to the scene to search for the missing man using sonar. Divers went into the water, and that was when the body of the man was recovered.
“A lot of people don’t take precautions and safety that’s why there is a lot of drownings,” Juan Valero said.
Xtreme Off Road Park & Beach has no lifeguards on duty. The park is a cool place to beat the heat, but officials encourage families to take precautions.
“The first thing I do is to get a lot of water. I carry a lot of water and Gatorade to stay hydrated. But if I’m in an area where I know it’s long distance or I don’t know how deep it is, I put on a life jacket just for safety. And that’s one thing a lot of parents don’t take precaution of,” Valero said.
Experts say these are several drowning prevention tips:
· Wear a life jacket
· Learn CPR
· Use the buddy system
· Know the risk of natural waters
· Avoid alcohol
· Don’t hyperventilate or hold your breath for a long time
Deputies said the woman does not know the man that saved her. The man’s age and identity were not released.