Fresno County Sheriff deputies searching for possible drowning victim at Hume Lake

HUME LAKE, Calif. (KFSN) -- A 20-year-old man is feared dead after he went missing near Hume Lake. The young man is still missing and presumed dead at this point.

He and two other friends went rafting on Hume lake Tuesday afternoon, but realized once they were in the water their raft was under inflated. The three friends then decided to swim to shore, but the young man never made it.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office responded and sent a helicopter up to scan the lake, but couldn't find anything.

The dive team was also called in but there is little they can do at the moment, because it takes time for them to adjust to the elevation.

"The vegetation in the water last time we dove was a five day dive for us. We are hoping this one will be much much faster. We are told there's no vegetation in the water, so hopefully the recovery will be swift," said Sgt. Rob Dutrow, Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

The dive team should start searching early Wednesday morning.

Deputies said they were actually at this location two summers ago for another drowning incident and are familiar with this terrain.

Action News also learned the missing man is not affiliated with Hume Lake Christian Camp. He was a medical student from Taiwan.