Shaver Lake Drowning Victim Identified 

June 11, 2024 – Fresno County Sheriff's Office officials report that the boy who drowned in Shaver Lake on Sunday has been identified as Alejandro Araujo, 16, of Orosi. Alejandro was a student at Orosi High School who was just wrapping up his junior year.

Around 12:40 p.m. on June 9^th, dispatchers received a call of a teenage boy who jumped off a pontoon boat into Shaver Lake and did not resurface. 16-year-old Alejandro Araujo was wearing a U.S. Coast Guard Type Two life jacket. He had placed it around his neck, but did not clip it around his body, so it slipped off when he entered the approximately 65° water. Someone in his group jumped into the lake to try and perform a rescue but could not find him.

Boating deputies, who were already on their regular weekend patrol assignment, quickly responded to the area, which is located near the island at Camp Chawankee. There was no immediate sign of the boy.

Members of the Sheriff’s Office Dive Unit DIVE team were called out and entered the water. At 1:50 p.m., a dive team member recovered the young man’s body from approximately 15 feet below. It was later learned Alejandro did not know how to swim well.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to be safe in and around pools and all natural waterways. Take these simple measures.

1.) Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. Make sure it is secure and fits the person properly.

2.) Stay out of the water if you are not an experienced swimmer.

3.) Parents should watch their children at all times.

4.) Do not mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol causes swimmers to fatigue faster than normal and can create dangerous situations.

5.) Understand that when it’s hot outside you will get tired faster than usual.

6.) Respect the water. The temperature of the water remains cold and the current is often stronger than it appears. There can be debris in the water, which is difficult to see and may cause hazardous situations for swimmers.

7.) Be careful of the mud on the bottom of lakes and rivers, it’s easy to sink in some spots and get your feet stuck. Also, use your feet to feel for drop off spots. River and lake bottoms can dramatically change from shallow to deep in a short distance.

Source & photos: Fresno County Sheriff's Office