Hamilton Pool Near-Drowning Prompts Travis County Parks Officials To Ban Swimming

AUSTIN, TX -- Travis County parks officials a ban on swimming at the popular Hamilton Pool following a near-drowning Friday morning and just five days after a young man drowned there.

At around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, emergency crews arrived at the the scene after receiving reports of a man in distress, Travis County Sheriff's Office spokesman Roger Wade said in a news advisory. Bystanders were able to pull the man out of the water, who initially declined treatment by responding medics.

After later becoming nauseous, the near-drowning victim requested emergency officials to transport him to the hospital, Wade said.

The unidentified man was lucky. On Oct. 2, Antonio Ramirez-Lopez, 20, submerged into the water without resurfacing until his body was found the next day. Darkness prompted rescuers to call off the search for the man, and his lifeless body was discovered the following morning.

And on Aug. 14, bystanders pulled Harker Heights resident Anthony Dorsett, 17, from Hamilton Pool after the boy fell into distress. Despite efforts to save him, the teenager died the next day.

Given those recent incidents, visitors will not be allowed to enter the water until further notice, the TCSO spokesman said. Updated information can be found by visiting the Travis County Parks website or by calling the Hamilton Pool information line at (512) 264-2740.

A naturally fed swimming hole, Hamilton Pool is the centerpiece of a 232-acre preserve. The pool is located a 3/4-mile upstream from the Pedernales River, where Hamilton Creek plunges through limestone outcroppings to create a 50-foot water at the head of a steep box canyon, Wade wrote in his description of the surroundings.

"The waterfall never completely dries up, but in dry periods slows to a trickle," Wade wrote. "However, the pool's water level stays constant, even during periods of drought."

The bucolic nature of the pool and its surroundings have made it a favorite stop for natives and visitors alike. But its popularity has created concerns for public safety officials given the throngs descending there particularly on weekends, prompting Travis County Commissioners Court members in March to implement a reservations-only attendance system and a doubling of the price for parking -- steps ostensibly taken to thin the crowds.

In the Oct. 2 drowning, rescue officials acknowledged to media outlets that the abundance of swimmers contributed to unsuccessful efforts to find Ramirez underwater given the disturbed silt below the water's surface that yielded limited visibility for divers.

>>> Image via Travis County