Update: Yucca Valley Youth lost in tragic drowning in Big Bear Lake

UPDATE: On 07/05/2010 at about 10:45 AM, Nathaniel Wayne Hopper, age: 18, from Yucca Valley, was swimming in Boulder Bay at Big Bear Lake when he began having difficulty and went under the water. The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department was notified and dispatched their dive team. At about 12:50 PM, Hopper was found and subsequently pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department is investigating the incident.

On Monday, July 5, 2010 at 10:47 a.m., Deputies from the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of a male subject under water in the area of Boulder Bay Park on Big Bear Lake.

Upon arrival, Deputies were advised that victim along with two male friends had began swimming in Boulder Bay headed toward some rocks approximately 100 yards away the shoreline. The two friends of the victim were unaware that he had become distressed and when looking for him, saw that he was asking for help and then sank under the water. An attempt was made by the friends to locate the victim however, they were unsuccessful. The victim was in approximately 15 feet of water with a temperature of approximately 64 degrees.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team was called to the scene. Dive team members were immediately in the water searching for the victim. Additional dive team members were brought in by Sheriff’s Department Aviation and an extensive search by multiple dive team members was conducted. The drowning victim was located by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Dive Teams Members at approximately 12:51 p.m. The victim was pronounced deceased at the incident location. The identity of victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Personnel from The Big Bear Sheriff’s Department Boat Patrol, Big Bear Lake Marine Enforcement, Big Bear Lake Fire, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Aviation and San Bernardino County Fire Department assisted in this incident.

Cactus Thorns has been online in one form or the other since 2001. What started as a personal blog documenting the corruption and lack of Due Process of the 29 Palms Community Development Department has turned into over these many years into a hugely popular Independent Alternative News Media Outlet. We have partnered with other media including The Desert Star Weekly, Joshua Tree Star, other blogs, indie media and an incredible staff of volunteer Reporters, Commentators and Opinion Makers to create one of the most read, honest and dependable alternative to the Local traditional Media services in the country. Thanks to you the reader we are in the 5% of most read sites in the World.

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