22-year-old Santa Barbara man identified in apparent drowning at Red Rock Pools

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - Santa Barbara County Sheriff's spokeswoman Raquel Zick and Santa Barbara County Fire spokesman Scott Safechuck confirmed that 22-year-old Roberto De La Cruz of Santa Barbara died Wednesday night while in the water at the Red Rock Pools.

Zick confirmed the man's identity Thursday morning in a tweet.

The Coroner's Bureau is releasing the ID of the apparent drowning victim from Red Rock on July 12, 2023. Decedent is 22-yer-old Roberto De La Cruz of Santa Barbara. Final cause and manner of death are pending.

— PIO Raquel Zick (@SBSOPIO) July 13, 2023

Safechuck tweeted the following update at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

De La Cruz's death marks the second death at Red Rock in the past two years.

The popular destination is a favorite among hikers and day use visitors to the Los Padres National Forest, especially during the warm, summer months.

Zick said the call went out at 6:07 p.m. to several emergency First Responders, including Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue (SAR) for an unconscious person and a possible water rescue.

Sheriff's dispatchers did provide life-saving Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) instructions to the party who called in.

"We are coming into warmer weather and we just encourage people to enjoy our outdoor areas safely," said Zick. "And, just be aware of water safety."

Safechuck urges the public to use caution when heading to the remote backcountry and popular swimming holes.

"Anytime you venture into the water it's important to take your time. Walk slowly into it and understand what the bottom is like, you don't know if there's a drop-off. Kind of walk gingerly as you move forward and be careful of those drop-offs. Make sure you know how to swim. Make sure the children you're with you have a close eye on them and have flotation devices on them. And, never take your eyes off them."

Mark Hall, a member of SAR, talked to your NewsChannel about past incidents in the Red Rock Pools area.

"On average, there's a fatality there once a year, at least. Also, lots of injuries from jumping on submerged rocks, etc."

Hall pointed out that the circumstances surrounding De La Cruz's death were "almost identical" to a situation last year, but the location was further up the mountain along the Santa Ynez River.

It happened in March of 2022 when 37-year-old Edgar Adrian Chico Oaxaca of Santa Barbara drowned.

"He (Oaxaca) was standing on the shore, took a step but it quickly drops off into deep water and he fell in. He couldn't get out and wasn't seen until out in the middle."

Hall warned that we're getting to that time of year when people are willing to hoof it over roughly three miles from the lower crossing, to get to the pools. He warned that the river bottom has changed since the strong, winter rains.

"If you're a non-swimmer, stay at least five feet from the river bank because of erosion. And have a life preserver and, keep an eye on kids."