A 19-year-old Fortuna boy is still missing after jumping into the Trinity River to rescue another swimmer Monday. The intensive search will likely wrap up Wednesday, explained Hoopa Tribal Chief of Police Rolando Ramos. He said typically, heavy search and rescue goes for three days where searchers try to pinpoint areas with clogs in the water the person might be.
The search began after police were called around 3:30 p.m. Monday to the Tish Tang campground area by the creek. Three people were swept into the Trinity River in an area Ramos said is “probably the most hazardous area of the river.” One juvenile had jumped to cool off, and two, including the now-missing teenager, had followed to try to rescue them.
The murky water churns through the valley, with recent dam releases spelling heavy volume and dangerous currents pulling below. Ramos estimated the water is in the 40s right now — and said many local fishermen aren’t fishing because the water is so rough.
“The best swimmers can’t handle this river at this point in the year,” he said.
CHP officers, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, tribal police boats, a volunteer firefighter, sonar boats from Sonoma and Yuba counties, and Coast Guard helicopters have scanned the water over the past few days. Initially, two of the three people, who were holding onto plants, were saved from the water by a fisherman who police flagged down. Ramos estimated they were in the water for 40 minutes to an hour.
He said the water is too strong right now for rescue swimmers to be deployed in the search. A family member of the missing teenager attempted to jump in later Monday after police and helicopters started the search, but had to be rescued by police as well, and had hypothermia.
Now, Ramos said, it could be the weight of the water on the person, the currents, or being caught on something underwater could be why searchers still haven’t found him. Ramos said that no clothing was found, and the person was reportedly wearing only swim trunks.
He emphasized that mid-June to September is usually the best time to swim — but right now, especially with the dam releasing water, it’s very dangerous.
Authorities are withholding the name of the teenager at this time.
Sage Alexander can be reached at 707-441-0504.