The body of a man who drowned at Lake Pleasant on Sunday was recovered by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office remote operating vehicle.
MCSO Lake Patrol deputies responded to a drowning at Lake Pleasant just east of the 10-lane boat ramp about 4:40 p.m. Sept. 15.
Witnesses and family members said an adult male, later identified as 25-year-old Byron Garcia-Perez, was swimming about 100 feet from the shoreline when he began to struggle and went under water. Deputies said Garcia-Perez never resurfaced and other family members attempted to locate him with no success.
Garcia-Perez was not wearing a life jacket.
Upon deputies’ arrival on patrol boats, a search of the area was conducted with no results. Then deputies called in MCSO’s remote operating vehicle, used for underwater search and recovery.
Just before midnight, the body was recovered under about 9 feet of water by the vehicle's operator. Lake Patrol is currently investigating the drowning, and say no foul play is suspected.
Garcia-Perez is the 13th drowning this year in county lakes and rivers.
Since 2000, there have been more than 300 drownings in county lakes and rivers. Only one was wearing a life jacket, and that was due to a flash flood.