16-Year-Old Cambria boy Drowns at Lake Nacimiento

A 16-year-old boy lost his life Friday evening after drowning at Lake Nacimiento. The San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s office says that boy has been identified as Dante Garcia Mora of Cambria.

“It’s just really sad but I feel like these things happen way too often,” Lake Nacimiento visitor Erica Frees said.

“It’s pretty tragic and I can’t imagine how the family and the friends who are there are feeling,” Frees said. “They must be feeling pretty shaken up.”

Erica Frees is one of thousands who venture to the lake every summer to beat the heat.

“Even if it’s not your group of people just be aware of what’s going on around you,” Frees said.

Sheriff’s deputies say the drowning happened at the Point at Heritage Ranch – a private community.

Witnesses said the boy had been swimming with friends when he swam away from the group. They say he was in distress before disappearing under the water. Bystanders were unsuccessful in locating him. The Sheriff’s dive team found his body around 8:30 p.m. in about 14 feet of water.

Park staff at Lake Nacimiento is reminding swimmers and boaters to always wear a life vest, swim with friends and know your limitations.

“We try to play it safe, you know it’s always sad to hear,” Lake Nacimiento visitor Mike Walther said.

Mike Walther and his Templeton family frequent the lake.

“You know it’s a good lesson for us, we have all our kids in life jackets, you know, they’re younger,” Walther said. “We always keep an eye on them, we know where they are at all times – accidents can happen at any moment.”

Just two weeks ago, a 29-year-old man from Kings County drowned out on Lake Nacimiento.

“Our prayers are with them, it’s something you can’t imagine happening until it does and I couldn’t imagine,” Walther said.

An autopsy will be conducted on Wednesday to determine the manner and cause of Mora’s death.

“If another group seems like they’re not paying attention to the people in the water, just keep an eye out,” Frees said.