Sheriff's Deputies and Cal Fire crews responded to the call of the drowning that happened near Piedra Road north of highway 180 at Avocado Lake. Sheriff's deputies say the drowning was an accident.
Authorities say two 18-year-old cousins went into the water to retrieve a soccer ball. Investigators say the young men were not strong swimmers and witnesses spotted them struggling about 50 feet from the shore. When deputies arrived, only one of the teens was safe.
"We ended up taking a statement from him. His cousin, however, had been under the water for 10 to 15 minutes," Sgt. Joe smith with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said.
Other residents at the lake managed to pull one teen out of the water shortly before authorities arrived. Rescue crews performed CPR, and then the teen was flown to Community Regional Medical Center, but he did not survive.
