AVONDALE, Ariz. — A body has been recovered in Avondale after reports of a possible drowning were made Sunday afternoon at the Gila River, according to officials.
The incident was reported Sunday just after 5 p.m., the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said. A caller said they heard cries for help in the area.
"There was a report of a possible drowning. Searching efforts took place and could not locate anyone," the sheriff's office said.
By Monday afternoon, the search resulted in a body being recovered from the water.
The deceased man has been identified as 53-year-old Carlos Sanchez.
Sanchez's friend told MCSO they had gone to the river that day to search for a lost ring.
“We were just tying to find the ring his mom gave him and just couldn’t do anything about it," said Lora Lopez, Sanchez's friend.
Lopez said they had been searching in the area before so she wasn't concerned about the water. But when they went to cross the river, the unimaginable happened.
“The water was deep and the current was pulling underneath and he got tired," Lopez said.
The Avondale Police Department had searched the river near El Mirage and Indian Springs Road before discovering Sanchez's body. They used a helicopter, drone, and underwater robot, but ultimately, MCSO's dive team made the grim discovery.
“Six to eight feet of water was the deepest, but the bottom was very murky, very muddy, so we’re talking about you actually go into the bottom instead of trying to push off like you would a backyard pool," explained MCSO Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez. “It may look calm on the surface but underneath we have currents.”
Lopez said Sanchez was a loving friend, father and grandfather.
“He was a great guy. Very giving. If you needed something he gave it to you," Sanchez said through tears. “He was always there for me when I needed him.”
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Drowning Prevention Tips:
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between ages 1-4 aside from birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three children die every day as a result of drowning. Here are some tips from the CDC on how to protect children around water:
Learn life-saving skills.
Everyone should know the basics of swimming (floating, moving through the water) and CPR.
Fence it off.
Install a four–sided isolation fence, with self–closing and self–latching gates, around backyard swimming pools. This can help keep children away from the area when they aren’t supposed to be swimming. Pool fences should be completely separate the house and play area from the pool.
Life jackets are a must.
Make sure kids wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water, such as lakes or the ocean, even if they know how to swim. Life jackets can be used in and around pools for weaker swimmers too.
Keep a close watch
When kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), closely supervise them at all times. Because drowning happens quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like reading books, talking on the phone, or using alcohol and drugs.
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