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Boy, 14, drowns at Lake Berryessa
Monday, August 18, 2008
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By CARLOS VILLATORO
Register Staff Writer
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A 14-year-old boy lost his life Sunday afternoon at Lake Berryessa.

The Napa County Sheriff’s Department reported Sunday afternoon that the boy drowned in the waters off of Oak Shores. CalFire crews from the nearby Spanish Flat station responded to the scene but were not able to save the boy’s life.
Further details of what led up to the drowning were not available Sunday evening.

The Sheriff’s Department withheld the name of the boy pending notification of next of kin.
36 comment(s)

proudmama2 wrote on Aug 18, 2008 7:19 AM:

" Our thoughts and prayers go out to this family. "

elb wrote on Aug 18, 2008 9:02 AM:

" I hate that lake. I just decided that I really hate that lake. Twenty-seven years of reading reports like this coming out of that place, and I can't stand it anymore. I absolutely h-a-t-e that lake.

My heart is heavy for this family, as it would be on any day, but to think of this boys closet, most likely readied with new school clothes that he will never wear... This is a terribly sad day for this family.

God, please help this family to find some sense of peace in spite of the horror that they must be enduring right now. "

Baraki wrote on Aug 18, 2008 9:10 AM:

" elb, I totally understand -- I can't stand that lake either. There's something off about it. "

NapaNana wrote on Aug 18, 2008 9:10 AM:

" This tragedy has brought my heart to sobs and tears pouring down my face.......
Dear GOD...we lift this family to you at this time......hold them through this mighty struggle they are going through right now......help them to rest in knowing that this young man is in the arms of Jesus........
I don't know if this will post....and it is o.k. "

steph wrote on Aug 18, 2008 9:21 AM:

" How sad.
Hugs to the family of that boy--I'm sorry for your pain. "

opiniagirl wrote on Aug 18, 2008 9:22 AM:

" elb

I was saying exactly the same thing that you wrote to my huband as soon as I read the headline.

I won't go to that lake. I could never enjoy a place that has been the host of so much trajic pain and sorrow.

My child is almost 14 - I couldn't even imagine...my heart breaks for this family! "

Rich wrote on Aug 18, 2008 9:54 AM:

" At one time all the resorts had trained people in residence to respond quickly to this sort of emergency. Now you must wait for CDF or Capell Valley fire to respond. Why does not the BOR have trained responders at the headquarters now that they have closed the resorts "

Grits wrote on Aug 18, 2008 10:15 AM:

" I have hated that lake for many years! Someone is always losing a loved one there! I hated it when my son and his friends were going!!! "

db76 wrote on Aug 18, 2008 10:23 AM:

" The lake is not to blame for anything. It's just a bunch of water in a hole in the ground. Parent's need to keep an eye on their kids, and adults need to stay out of the water if they've been drinking, or else natural selection will thin the herd. "

Notwhatyouthink wrote on Aug 18, 2008 10:34 AM:

" My condolensces and prayers to the family as well. I cannot imagine losing my child like that. However I don't understand the comments about 'hating the lake'....drownings are accidents caused by humans. Do you also hate all California beaches? I also agree with Rich....and wonder why the Oak Shores public swimming area isn't supervised by a Lifeguard? "

db76 wrote on Aug 18, 2008 10:51 AM:

" "At one time all the resorts had trained people in residence to respond quickly to this sort of emergency. Now you must wait for CDF or Capell Valley fire to respond."

How about taking a CPR class at the local Red Cross? It takes about 4 hours. How many hours a day do people watch TV? Having done CPR on somebody before, I can tell you that it absolutely does work. "

14obama wrote on Aug 18, 2008 11:44 AM:

" You can't go blaming the lake. It's just the way it goes. Ain't nothin we can do about it now. Sure it's painful,but we'll see him later,I'm sure ! Ain't missin much down here,anyway. See ya later young man ! God bless ya ! "

soccermom123 wrote on Aug 18, 2008 11:51 AM:

" May god help the family through this. I too have a 14 year old boy. This brought me to tears. You are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless. "

SouthNapa wrote on Aug 18, 2008 12:05 PM:

" It's not the lake's fault that accidents happen. People need to be careful up there and stay off the sauce. If you can't swim very well, stay out of the water. It's a lot easier to reach the edge of a pool than it is to swim back to shore at a lake.

Condolences to the family of this boy. "

Redredwine wrote on Aug 18, 2008 12:24 PM:

" This is so sad, my condolensces and prayers to the family.

db76- I agree with you it only takes a few hours from your time to take a CPR class, PLEASE look into it if you have not done so. "

elb wrote on Aug 18, 2008 1:07 PM:

" Okay, so as for my "hating the lake" let me clarify the obvious, here.

I am not so stupid as to think the lake somehow grows arms and grabs people, pulling them under.

Yes, technically speaking the tragedies that occur at the lake are not "the lake's fault", but as far as I've decided, (And no one else has to decide the same) there just seems to be some sort of bad juju around that place.

Maybe it has something to do with the overall caliber of people the lake attracts? Maybe it has to do with a lot of factors, many of which I'm not able to exhaust, here within the confines of an online forum.

What I do know is that I, personally, have decided that after twenty-seven years of senseless lakeside tragedies and after today's headline; I hate that lake. "

hmmm247 wrote on Aug 18, 2008 1:45 PM:

" I agree with all of the people that say the lake is not to blame. I go up to Oak Shores on a regular basis. Last year I had to save a young boy that swam too far out he was about 14 or 15 and not wearing a life jacket.

I watch kids out at Oak shores all of the time that jump off the rocks not knowing how deep it is and/or they try to swim out to the islands not realizing how far it really is. Where are the parents? On the beach!

The Bureau of Reclamtion supplies FREE life jackets to anyone who wants them. All you have to do is go up to the trailer and get one. They also tell you that when you enter the park. Why was he not wearing one???

If they still had to notify next of kin, who was there with him that should have been watching him?

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. It is a very sad thing. "

lahrgsp wrote on Aug 18, 2008 2:08 PM:

" OMG this is so sad!! I have a 14 yr old boy cant imagine losng him.
They need to close that lake up!!
I think it has a curse. They made all the people leave their farms and houses to build the lake.
Every year people die at the lake! "

Joe wrote on Aug 18, 2008 2:31 PM:

" Lake Berryessa is a great lake with good water temperature. Many people who go there and are disrespectful and treat the lake with no respect by littering are what I hate. People trust too much that there kids can swim well. If they go too far and get tired they will most likely go under swallow some water and drown. "

NVR-Dan Ross wrote on Aug 18, 2008 3:44 PM:

" A San Francisco teen has been identified as the boy who died. See our updated story "

dellasumbrella wrote on Aug 18, 2008 3:50 PM:

" This is tragic for the boy, and for his family and friends, no matter how it happened. As others have said here, many of the accidents at the lake were caused by drinking, risky behaviors, or both. However, the fact that it is a man-made lake, and has unsafe objects just below the surface of the water (such as manzanita branches, broken bottles, etc.), makes it even more hazardous. In addition, some accidents were a result of swimmer interacting with motorized watercraft. Much as I'm intrigued by the idea of a curse emanating out of the uprooted town and graveyard, that's just our magical thinking kicking in to try to explain tragedy which can usually be explained more realistically. Hearing about sudden, accidental, and possibly avoidable death always feels like having the wind knocked out of me. Maybe we need safety instruction on an ongoing basis at the lake. It's taken time for the lake to develop its destructive reputation. There are many ways that can be turned around, and it's time to start advocating for that, as some people here have done. "

Grits wrote on Aug 18, 2008 5:44 PM:

" Oh, for pete's sake, no one is blaming the lake! But you don't seem to hear about beach drownings, etc. - it just seems that there are so many drownings there - I grew up in an area with many lakes and therefore a lot of recreational water activities, and it just seems that there are more drownings there! OK? "

MarionM11 wrote on Aug 18, 2008 7:39 PM:

" I've been there. Me and my friends were the first ones in the water, diving for this boy. His friends were so close to him, but they didn't grab his arm, why? They didn't call for help, why? Why did they go into the water if none of them could swim? Why didn't we find him, we were there after one minute! So many questions.. We've loved that lake, but I could never go back. "

CapellFF wrote on Aug 18, 2008 11:34 PM:

" I'd like to comment to RICH on the statement that you have to wait for help to arrive. Oak Shores has Rangers on the shorelines and patroling the park. The first person to assist was a park ranger with a medical background and an AED in his pocession. You couldn't have asked for a better senareo to a very sad situation. I'd hate for people to think they have to "wait for CDF or Capell Fire" to get to the shores before they get any sort of qualified medical assistance. The dedication and training of the personel that are at this public beach area should be commended for thier hard work and committment.
The prayers of our entire fire department family go out to the family of this young man. "

amazed wrote on Aug 19, 2008 1:07 PM:

" Grits is right. I think it has do with the configuration of the lake. Because it's man-made, it's very steep, and the bottom drops off suddenly. I grew up at Clear Lake, and I just don't remember this happening with the frequency of Berryessa. (Obviously, the water/alcohol/boating combination is deadly anywhere.) "

Duck wrote on Aug 19, 2008 10:41 PM:

" We were there on Saturday and swam within the area bordered by red buoys. A very nicely surrounded area with signs for boats not to enter. Some people however were outside the swim area and rubber row boats did come in, did no harm. People though swim there irresponsibly, the do not know how to swim they use float or a ring and the wind easily blows it out from under them. We saw several floating devices blown to shore. Horrible thing to lose a child in the water, where were the parents? It is not the lake's fault. "

Lakelover wrote on Aug 20, 2008 8:03 PM:

" It is a sad thing that happend.We however rarely blame the car for taking a life it's ussually the alcohol or the person etc. Unless of course it's a motorcycle!B.S. People odviously don't ever talk about all the good times the Lake Etc. provides.That Lake has probally created more LIfes than it has taken! What a wonderful place to take the Dog and BBQ,Ski.Camp on and on! I feel for the family and the Lake could use more services and occomidations like the BOR is spearheading! "

winamarie1062 wrote on Aug 20, 2008 9:27 PM:

" Soooo sad.

Be careful.....there are many conditions to consider at the lake it is not a pool. Life jackets are a must in deep parts even for swimmers. Our 12 yr old whined all summer about it but she is still with us.

Drinking is often the factor as admitted but mostly inexperienced weekend warriors who come up and are dangerous to themselves and the rest of us.

We only go boating on slow weekdays and stick where others are not. Too many people have no idea the rules and safety preacutions that should be taken.

Two weeks ago someone crashed in to our boat. They had borrowed thier dad's boat with no clue what they were doing. No major damage or injury this time but very scary.

You think there are idiots in cars with daily practice and lanes, signs etc to guide them...Imagine the same city slicker idiots racing boats around.

Another reason Berryessa has more drownings is simple numbers...they have alot of summer visitors.

Someone should research the number of drownings in comparative lakes. Would be interesting to know.

It seems like Berryessa averages approx 8 per yr?????




MOST IMPORTANATLY RIP. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOURS "

msinformd wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:12 PM:

" Heartfelt sorrow for family and friends. A reminder to us all to learn to swim and CPR. "

msinformd wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:37 PM:

" So many deaths. Don't think it's the lake or it's water. Likely the beer. Not likely the case this time, though. "

Shawana wrote on Aug 25, 2008 4:19 PM:

" How terribly sad. That lake is the devil! "

judgeknot wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:59 PM:

" Msinformd, how dare you. You don't know they didn't do CPR! "

msinformd wrote on Aug 26, 2008 7:14 AM:

" Judgeknot, no I didn't want to say they didn't. It's just good to know CPR. It saves lives. I'll try to be more creful to explain next time. "

judgeknot wrote on Aug 26, 2008 11:38 AM:

" Msinformd, sorry I jumped the gun assuming against you. Let's pray for the family, instead of jump each other. Sorry, again. "

judgeknot wrote on Aug 26, 2008 1:42 PM:

" I now see in a related article that CPR was performed. CPR is a blessing even when it fails. At least they know they did all they could, rather than regreting a lack of vital skills. "

Shawana wrote on Aug 26, 2008 7:05 PM:

" It's true. A friend of mine failed CPR on his Mom and says he'd of really gone off the deep end if he hadn't been able to try. "

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