Friends lose sight of man swimming, but find shoes at waters edge, Texas officials say

Friends and co-workers were enjoying “an evening of recreation” at a Texas park when one of the friends vanished, officials said.

Hamsim Mutabasi was the only friend of the group to enter the swimming area of Spring Canyon within Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, according to a news release.

At about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, Mutabasi’s friends lost sight of him, officials said. But his shoes were still at the edge of the water.

Friends called 911 and reported the 34-year-old man missing, according to the release. First responders with several agencies responded to the area.

“There were many visitors in the area both in the water and on the beach,” officials said. “After interviewing Hamsim’s friends and witnesses who were in the water and along that area of the beach, Spring Canyon was closed and all visitors were asked to leave the area.”

First responders said they identified “a concentrated search area” and began looking for Mutabasi. The search included the use of game wardens’ boat sonar, which helped to narrow the search area.

Divers with the National Park Service found Mutabasi’s body at about 9:30 p.m., according to the release. The man from Cactus had drowned.

This was the second water-related death at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in 2023, according to the park.

Lake Meredith is about 40 miles northeast of Amarillo and 60 miles southeast of Cactus in the Texas Panhandle.

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 August 8, 2023 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Friends lose sight of man swimming, but find shoes at waters edge, Texas officials say."