drowning

The body of a 38-year-old white male from Austin was recovered Wednesday, July 4, from the Llano River arm of Lake LBJ in Kingsland after the man apparently drowned trying to swim across the lake.

Llano County Sheriff's Chief Deputy John Neff said his department received a 911 call about a missing swimmer at 2:55 a.m. Wednesday. Deputies responded to the scene and requested assistance from Texas Parks & Wildlife game wardens.

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

A weekend on the water turned into a tragedy as a man died in the early morning of July 23 after being pulled from the water at Buchanan Dam the day before.

According to Steve Lightfoot of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Juan Antonio Bolaños, a 28-year-old Mexican national, was on a float tube at the dam Saturday evening when he fell off at some point and was unable to swim.

Friends on shore say it was about 15 minutes before they realized he wasn’t there. They then went out and brought him to shore.

Lightfoot said medical personnel responding were able to detect a pulse from Bolaños, who was then transported by helicopter to a hospital.

The Mexican national was pronounced dead early Sunday morning.

Lightfoot said at this time, no further details of Bolaños’ death are known. He added that there is currently no indication of foul play.

The body of a man who drowned in Lake LBJ near Sunrise Beach Village was recovered Wednesday after a two-day search.

The man was identified as 74-year-old William Thornton Jr. of Harlingen.

According to a statement released by Sunrise Beach Village Police Chief Laurie Brock, the Llano County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, about a missing swimmer.

The caller reporter Thornton had gone swimming from a boat on Lake LBJ and encountered trouble in the water. The victim went under the water and did not resurface.

Sunrise Beach Village police and fire personnel responded to the scene at end of Beach Drive, where a search began for Thornton.

Joining SBV were personnel from the LCSO, Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife game wardens, Lake Colorado River Authority rangers and firefighters from Kingsland and Buchanan departments.