Sheriff: 13-year-old boy drowns at Lake Shasta; second death in three days at Centimudi launch
David BendaA 13-year-old boy drowned at the Centimudi Boat Launch of Lake Shasta on Tuesday night, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said.
The boy was found in about 10 feet of water near the boat dock and taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding where he later died, investigators said. Authorities did not name the boy.
This is the second death at the Centimudi boat ramp in the span of three days.
Floyd Wayne Larkins, 65, of Cottonwood, died Saturday morning after the boat he was in sank in Lake Shasta in the area of the boat ramp.
On Tuesday night around 10:15, the sheriff’s office received a report of a possible drowning.
The grandfather told deputies that he arrived with his three grandsons, ages 13, 7 and 6, around 8:30 p.m. The boys were visiting from the Stockton area, the grandfather told deputies.
The boys were playing in the water next to the boat dock while other children and adults were visiting in the area.
The grandfather walked away from the boat ramp for a few minutes to talk to an adult who was fishing on the banks of the lake, investigators said, and a short time later witnesses heard the 13-year-old boy yell for help before he disappeared.
Sheriff’s deputies and medical personnel searched the area and found the boy around 10:30 p.m.
The boy was not wearing a life jacket and per the law was not required to do so, investigators said.
The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office boating unit, though, in a news release said people recreating in the water should wear a life jacket, stay hydrated and keep on eye on children when they are around water.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.