Two more drownings over Memorial weekend add to already deadly summer on Arizona lakes

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Brandon Hunt (Flickr)

Lake Pleasant has been the scene of five drowning deaths and a boating death in the last six weeks

Ole Olafson, Reporter

Water safety is becoming a mounting concern among summer recreationalist following two more incidents on area lakes during the Memorial holiday weekend.

Late Saturday morning, another person is feared to have drowned in Lake Pleasant while swimming.

Azcentral.com reported that the man, who was not wearing a life preserver, disappeared under the surface of the water near South Barker Island around 11:00 a.m. and did not come back up.

Sunday afternoon, another man drowned while swimming — this time at Lake Saguaro.

Azfamily.com reported that Dylan Williams, 24, was swimming near the Butcher Jones recreation area on Lake Saguaro on Sunday evening when he died.  Maricopa Sherriff deputies were able to recover his body later that day.

The events last weekend add to an already deadly summer season on Arizona’s lakes.

Prior to last weekend’s death, four people drowned on four consecutive weekends at Lake Pleasant, followed by a woman who was killed when her leg was cut off, on the same lake, by a boat propeller on May 21.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance offers the following safety tips for swimmers in open water.

  • Swim in a designated swimming area.
  • When in doubt, get out of the water.
  • Never swim alone.
  • Don’t use alcohol.
  • Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved floatation device.