19-year-old dies after jumping off dock and vanishing in lake, Oregon police say

A 19-year-old man died after jumping off a dock and vanishing at a park lake, Oregon police reported.

Filemon Villavisencio Santos was swimming at Keizer Rapids Park on Saturday, July 22, when he didn’t resurface after jumping from a dock into the water, city police said in a news release.

When police arrived, onlookers said he had been under water for 10 minutes, officers said.

Officer Iliya Kuzmenko spotted Santos in 8 feet of water and jumped in to rescue him with the help of several onlookers, police said.

Santos was taken to a Salem hospital, where he was pronounced dead of drowning on July 23, police said. Police are investigating why he did not resurface after jumping into the lake.

Keizer is about 45 miles southwest of Portland.

What to know about drowning

At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.

Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.

“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”

This story was originally published July 25, 2023 at 11:41 AM with the headline "19-year-old dies after jumping off dock and vanishing in lake, Oregon police say."