Jay_SMART_Diver
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At 18:30 Hours on September 28th, 2009 The San Marcos Area Recovery Team was contacted by Comal County Sherriff’s Department to assist in the search and recovery of a 24 year old San Antonio man. The victim was with friends at Overlook Park on the South side of Canyon Dam, when he jumped into the water from shore holding onto a female friend. At approximately 18:10 both subjects jumped from a rock on shore to approximately a five foot drop into the water below. The female surfaced in distress and friends entered the water to retrieve her but the male victim, by witness statements, did not re-surface. A 911 call was placed to the Sherriff’s Department at 18:15. Deputies and Texas Parks and Wildlife game Wardens responded to the scene.
SMART Captain arrived at Overlook Park at 19:30 and began information gathering from Deputies, Park Rangers, and Game Wardens. At approximately 20:00 SMART Divers arrived at Overlook Park. Due to low light conditions, steep and treacherous shore access, the decision was made to re-locate to Canyon Lake Boat Ramp 1 off Skyline Drive. Once units were re-located, Divers and gear were loaded onto TPW boat and taken via boat to the Last Seen Point. Divers entered the water at 21:00 and a parallel search pattern commenced. Dive profile: Dive Time: 27 minutes, Max Depth: 55 ffw, Water Temp at depth: 68° F. Visibility with Dive Lights reported to be 6’-8’. Dive operations were suspended after this dive due to late hour and limited visibility for continued safe operations.
Dive Operations resumed the following morning with units meeting back at Boat Ramp 1. SMART Divers suited up for the operation and boarded the TPW Boat. Divers entered the water at the Last Seen Point from TPW Boat at 10:40. A parallel search was once again utilized starting at 100 ffw moving shallower at approximately five foot increments for subsequent passes. The victim was located 23 minutes into the dive at 11:03 in 63 ffw with a water temperature of 60° F. The victim was brought to the surface safely and brought on board the TPW Game Warden boat and secured in a Body Bag. Divers were recovered from the water and the boat returned to Boat Ramp 1 where the dive operation was terminated. The Presiding Justice of the Peace responded to the scene and made pronouncement of the victim and the body was released to a local funeral home for transport.
The San Marcos Area Recovery Team would like to thank all team members who responded and were available for this operation, the South Hays Fire Department personnel for their assistance and support, Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens for their assistance and boat operations, US Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers for their assistance and facilities, and the Comal County Sherriff’s Department for their manpower and assistance. As always our most heartfelt sympathy and condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim.
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SMART Captain arrived at Overlook Park at 19:30 and began information gathering from Deputies, Park Rangers, and Game Wardens. At approximately 20:00 SMART Divers arrived at Overlook Park. Due to low light conditions, steep and treacherous shore access, the decision was made to re-locate to Canyon Lake Boat Ramp 1 off Skyline Drive. Once units were re-located, Divers and gear were loaded onto TPW boat and taken via boat to the Last Seen Point. Divers entered the water at 21:00 and a parallel search pattern commenced. Dive profile: Dive Time: 27 minutes, Max Depth: 55 ffw, Water Temp at depth: 68° F. Visibility with Dive Lights reported to be 6’-8’. Dive operations were suspended after this dive due to late hour and limited visibility for continued safe operations.
Dive Operations resumed the following morning with units meeting back at Boat Ramp 1. SMART Divers suited up for the operation and boarded the TPW Boat. Divers entered the water at the Last Seen Point from TPW Boat at 10:40. A parallel search was once again utilized starting at 100 ffw moving shallower at approximately five foot increments for subsequent passes. The victim was located 23 minutes into the dive at 11:03 in 63 ffw with a water temperature of 60° F. The victim was brought to the surface safely and brought on board the TPW Game Warden boat and secured in a Body Bag. Divers were recovered from the water and the boat returned to Boat Ramp 1 where the dive operation was terminated. The Presiding Justice of the Peace responded to the scene and made pronouncement of the victim and the body was released to a local funeral home for transport.
The San Marcos Area Recovery Team would like to thank all team members who responded and were available for this operation, the South Hays Fire Department personnel for their assistance and support, Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens for their assistance and boat operations, US Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers for their assistance and facilities, and the Comal County Sherriff’s Department for their manpower and assistance. As always our most heartfelt sympathy and condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim.
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