Divers Search for Missing Man in Big Bear Lake

Updated 2:00 PM PST, Sun, Jul 5, 2009

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Erik Hermann

Divers at Big Bear Lake resumed a search Sunday for a 33-year-old Alhambra man last seen when he jumped into the water to help another swimmer in trouble.

Boat traffic and gusty conditions on the reservoir in the mountains 80 miles east of Los Angeles caused the search to be interrupted Saturday, according to San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers.

"Fourth of July, of course the lake was packed," she said. "A lot of boats on the water. It was creating problems for the search, and compromising safety of the divers."

The missing man's name was being withheld. He was with a group of people who rented a boat at Pine Knot Marina on the south shore Friday, Beavers said. They were about 300 yards from shore when one man jumped into the lake to cool off about 3:25 p.m.

He struggled in the choppy waters, and the Alhambra man jumped in to help but began struggling also. A third man jumped in to help the other two. The first and third men made it back to the boat, but the Alhambra man went under, according to Beavers.

Sheriff's divers searched until 7 p.m. Friday and from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Beavers said search coordinators hoped boat traffic on the busy resort lake would be lighter Sunday than it was Saturday.

But gusting winds were already posing a problem again today, Beavers said.

"They have about five divers out there today," Beavers said. "They may have to call it a day in the early afternoon because the winds are getting stronger and the water's getting too rough."

Wind readings on Big Bear Lake this morning were estimated at 10-15 mph, said National Weather Service meteorologist Stan Wasowski, who is based in San Diego.