Search ends for woman presumed to have drowned near Discovery Park

The Sacramento Fire Department has called off a recovery search for 27-year-old Aasha Sharma, who is believed to have drowned Monday near Discovery Park.

Sharma entered the water where the American and Sacramento rivers meet shortly after 4 p.m. Her husband, Purna Paudel, said he was wading with her and some friends when they accidentally entered a deep section with a strong current.

Rescuers searched for Sharma for an hour and a half before a Drowning Accident Rescue Team (DART) looked underwater for an hour, Sacramento Fire Department spokesman Chris Harvey said. After an unsuccessful search for her body, the team concluded its investigation.

“Right now, we’re just kind of waiting for her to wash up onto the shore,” Harvey said.

Richard Molina, 36, was at the beach Monday when he saw Sharma struggling in the water. He ran out to help her but soon became incapacitated, Harvey said.

Despite swallowing a large amount of water, Molina was able to make it back to the shore, vomiting as he crawled across the sand. Paramedics gave Molina life support before he was taken to UC Davis Medical Hospital, where he has since been released.

This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 2:04 PM with the headline "Search ends for woman presumed to have drowned near Discovery Park."