WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Authorities have identified the man who drowned after his kayak flipped in Dogtown Lake in Williams as 58-year-old Anthony Villarreal from Corvallis, Montana.
First responders arrived at the lake after a 911 call at around 11 a.m. Friday morning.
"According to the 911 call, a male kayaker flipped over in the water, and despite an eyewitness attempts to rescue him, the man went underwater and did not resurface," police said in a news release.
>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app
Witnesses said a "sudden gust of wind" caused the kayak to capsize.
"The witness bravely swam towards the distressed kayaker in an attempt to help, but unfortunately, the individual disappeared beneath the surface before he could be reached," police said.
Crews from the Williams Fire Department, Lifeline Ambulance and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office all worked to try and rescue Villarreal after the 911 call. They were able to find the kayak and Villarreal's cell phone.
The Coconino County Search and Rescue team then took over the search for Villarreal and the Maricopa County Search and Rescue dive team also arrived to assist.
"Due to the complexity of the search, specialized resources, including a dive team and underwater robotics from the Maricopa County Search and Rescue, were deployed," a press release from the Williams Police Department said. "After a thorough search, Anthony Villarreal's body was recovered earlier (Saturday)."
Williams police are urging all boaters and kayakers to wear life vests while on the water, as they can make the chances of surviving after a boat capsizes much greater and they can prevent tragedies like Villarreal's death.
"The Williams Police Department and all partner agencies involved extend their deepest condolences to Mr. Villarreal's family and loved ones during this difficult time," the press release said.
This is a developing story; additional details will be added as they become available.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
More ways to get 12News
On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
