20-year-old LA man drowns in Canyon Lake

A 20-year-old Los Angeles man drowned Sunday after swimming out to the middle of the north area of Canyon Lake, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said. The Riverside County Coroner’s Office identified the man Tuesday as Pablo Lopez.

Photo courtesy of Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Canyon Lake deputies and Cal Fire Station 60 responded to the north area of the lake just before 4:00 p.m. Sunday after witnesses said the victim was in distress and went under water. A sheriff’s helicopter crew was called in to assist with the search, but was unable to locate him because of the murky water conditions.

After hours of searching, the Riverside County Underwater Search and Rescue dive team was summoned and it found his body at approximately 10:00 p.m.

It appears Pablo entered the lake from the extreme north portion of the lake, which is outside the Canyon Lake city limit and near Perris. The sheriff’s department said there is no information available about why Lopez attempted such a long swim or why he eventually became submerged and drowned. The investigation continues.