Three people drowned near a hiking area in Tulare County on Friday, the latest incidents in the state as drowning deaths are on the rise in California and the country.
Local media reported that the deaths occurred in the Seven Teacups hiking area, which is near Johnsondale. The fire department initially responded to a possible drowning around 5:20 p.m. Friday and arrived to find three people dead at the scene.
Another victim reportedly suffered serious injuries. The Tulare County Fire Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The deaths come after a summer of drownings across the state, including several in the American River in Northern California.
Earlier this month, on August 18, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said a father jumped into the water to rescue his son, who was in distress in the American River. Another man saved his son, but the father went under and his body was later recovered from the water. It was reported that it was the fifth drowning in the area.
According to media reports, at least four people have died in the Yuba River since the beginning of the year. Following two drownings in July, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office reminded the public that warnings shared by lifeguards and river advocates “are serious and intended to educate river users about the dangers of the river's swift, cold waters.”
Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study showing that drowning deaths were on the rise in the United States, after decades of decline.
More than 4,500 people died from drowning each year between 2020 and 2022, 500 more per year compared to 2019, according to the CDC.
CDC recommends learning basic swimming and water safety skills, wearing a life jacket while boating, and not drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or other water activities.
