Family of Isaiah Sanchez Searches Cachuma Lake
The family of Isaiah Sanchez is speaking about the 22-year-old Oxnard man who possibly drowned in Cachuma Lake Friday night.
The grieving family is spending hours searching the water on boat and by foot.
“We’re just staying together, that’s what we have to do,” said Santana Sanchez, Isaiah Sanchez’s 24-year-old sister.
She and more than 50 of her family members, including her 26-year-old brother Aaron Sanchez, are coming together to search for her younger brother.
Isaiah Sanchez moved to Oxnard a year ago from the Imperial Valley. He was visiting Cachuma Lake with his girlfriend’s family. He was on the boat with her brother and uncle when the battery died.
“He figured it would be easy to swim to shore but when he realized he couldn’t he tried turning around, going back towards the boat; he didn’t make it. He was drifting away instead of going towards the boat,” said Joaquin Rodriguez, the boyfriend of Isaiah Sanchez’s mother.
Rodriguez was there when his girlfriend got the phone call of the possible drowning.
“Hysterical. No words can explain. No words can explain,” he said as he wiped away a tear.
Tuesday morning a sheriff’s helicopter scoured the shores and hidden areas of the lake looking for any sign of the 22-year-old.
The weather conditions continue to play a big factor in the search. The winds kicked up Tuesday afternoon, causing waves on the water. It made the search difficult for boats and kayaks.
The family told NewsChannel 3 the support they are getting from park rangers, sheriff’s deputies and even lake visitors is helping them get through this difficult time.
“I want the community to know that we are thankful for all their help and support that we’ve been receiving and all we ask for is that it continues and just know that we are all here and we are just going to keep looking until we find him,” said Santana Sanchez.
“Gracias a todos,” said Rodriguez.
The search continues Wednesday morning. California State Parks will bring in personal water crafts to search areas that are too shallow for boats.
Slideshow: Family Of Isaiah Sanchez Searches Cachuma Lake
