Placer divers searching for fisherman who disappeared in reservoir near Tahoe
Emergency crews searched a Placer County reservoir near Lake Tahoe for a man who disappeared Thursday night beneath the surface after trying to rescue a friend, officials said.
According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, two men were fishing from kayaks around 7:45 p.m. when one fell into the water. The second man entered Hell Hole Reservoir to help, and both began swimming toward the shore. The second man went under and did not resurface.
The man who reached shore was unable to call for help until about 8:45 a.m. Friday, the Sheriff’s Office said. The delay prompted a search-and-rescue operation later that morning, with multiple crews responding to the remote site 10 miles west of Lake Tahoe.
The incident came days after Placer County sheriff’s divers recovered the body of a drowning victim Sunday from the American River.
“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected as the search continues,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM.
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