Donations Sought for Berryessa Drowning Victim's Child

Tani Tau, the 24-year-old San Mateo man whose body was found at the bottom of Lake Berryessa the day after he disappeared while swimming away from a boat Aug. 25, left a young daughter, and friends have established a fund for her support.

A posting by Lori Eckert on San Mateo Patch reads:

As some of you may know, our beloved Tani Tau left behind a young daughter upon his untimely death. So to all of the family and friends that are grieving the loss of our beloved Tani, we are asking for contributions in his honor to the Tau family and his precious daughter, Mya.

Your gift may be sent to: Melia Koleti Tau at 3180 Caso de Campo Apt. #2.  San Mateo, California 94403. These gifts , in Tani's memory, will be used as the family deems appropriate; i.e., funeral expenses and for Maya. Please, forward this post to any one that knows and loves Tani and his family. OFA ATU!

Tani Tau, whose full name was given as Sitaniselao Juliest Beck Tau, was on a pontoon boat with friends in the "Narrows" area at the south end of the lake west of Little Portuguese Canyon Aug. 25, Napa County Sheriff's Capt. Tracey Stuart said.

His friends said Tau, whom they described as a good swimmer, jumped and swam far from the boat before he disappeared under water around 1:40 p.m., Stuart said.

"They tried to reach him but couldn't," Stuart said.

A sheriff's dive team arrived and worked to determine where Tau had last been seen, Stuart said.

The dive team returned Sunday and searched for about seven hours
before Tau's body was found at 4:40 p.m. in 30 feet of water, Stuart said.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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