River Sweeps Away LA Man In Sequoia National Park

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles man was killed Sunday when he was swept own the Kaweah River in Sequoia National Park.

His body has been found, and the circumstances and cause of death are under investigation, it was reported Monday. Authorities with the Tulare County coroner's office have not released his identity. The 36-year-old went into the river about midday Sunday near the park entrance parking lot, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Swift-water rescue crews attempted to rescue him, but by the time they found him, he was dead.

It was the first river death this year at the national park, where in the summer, rivers fed by snowmelt move much faster than expected, said Mike Theune, a spokesman for the National Park Service.

Authorities encouraged people to use caution and to avoid wading into the edge of the water.

“With rising area temperatures, rivers look very inviting,” U.S. Park Ranger Elizabeth Dietzen said. “Please stay away as they are swift, cold and dangerous.”

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock