Missing teenager drowned in Russian River, Sheriff’s Office says

(KRON) — Search and rescue teams were searching the Russian River for a missing teenager on Friday when they found a body. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said the teen likely drowned.

The teenager went missing on Thursday afternoon after he and a friend were swept into the river’s frigid waters at Steelhead Beach in Forestville.

Sonoma County Fire District members conducted a water rescue attempt for two teenagers. One teen was rescued Thursday, but the other disappeared in water.

The Sheriff’s Office wrote, “At approximately 4:40 p.m. on April 11, 2024, we received a 911 call that two teenagers had been swept into the Russian River from Steelhead Beach. After speaking with witnesses, it was determined one of the teenagers was able to get out of the water on their own and was later transported to a local hospital.”

The search was halted late Thursday night and resumed at sunrise Friday.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Dive Team were joined by Napa County Sheriff’s Office’s Marine Unit, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office’s Marine Unit and Sonoma County Regional Parks. At 10:30 a.m., a body was found using an underwater remotely operated vehicle.

“We were able to recover the body from the water and are working on confirming the identity the teen. We want to offer our sincerest condolences to the victim’s family during this difficult time,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote.

Steelhead Beach Regional Park was closed on Friday during the search effort. The beach is a popular fishing and swimming destination during the summer. Park officials said there are no lifeguards in the area.

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