Tragedy on Lake Tahoe after boat found adrift with six kids on board
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Sat, 10/10/2020 - 11:46am
A person hearing cries for help from Lake Tahoe Friday evening brought out a full emergency response to the middle of the lake.
An investigation is underway, but Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) Marshal Eric Guevin was able to release a few details about the October 9, 2020 incident.
Guevin said their Marine 24 responded along with the US Coast Guard after the person hearing the cries notified first responders. Not know where exactly where they came from, responses headed towards Pope Beach. The first 911 calls were heard just before 7:00 p.m.
Marine 24 found a boat with "six small kids" on board, all hypothermic due to being dressed for a daytime outing on the lake. The Coast Guard took the children to waiting rescue vehicles on the shore.
From the initial reports, the mother of the children jumped into the lake but was not wearing a floatation device and struggled. Dad jumped in with a life preserver on to help. It is unknown at this time why he couldn't get back to the boat.
The children in the boat had drifted away from where the parents were. When found they were transported to the hospital. The dad was found in extreme hypothermia and also transported to Barton Hospital in South Lake Tahoe.
A search continued for the mother who was found after 9:00 p.m. after being in the water for an estimated two hours longer than her husband. She succumbed after life-saving efforts by Lake Valley Fire personnel and others at the scene.
Guevin said jurisdiction at this time is uncertain. They found the boat in the middle of the lake, straight out from the Zephyr Cove area.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and other agencies.
