Drowning in Lake of the Arbuckles

On the morning of Saturday, May 27th, a group swimming in a cove at the Point area of the Lake of the Arbuckles noticed that one of their number was missing. Water conditions were choppy, with a 15 to 20 mph westerly wind blowing. An Oklahoma game warden on patrol in the nearby picnic area was the first to be notified, but park rangers were on scene within two minutes. Two park boats were utilized to search for the 22-year-old man. He was found just over an hour later under the lake’s surface. A ranger checked for vital signs but found none. The body was later turned over to the Oklahoma State Chief Medical Examiner’s Office and the victim’s family in Mexico was notified. It is believed that rough water, windy conditions and inexperience contributed to the drowning.