AUSTIN, Texas — A family member and the Travis County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) have confirmed that the body of a cliff diver who went missing on Lake Travis on Saturday has been recovered.
The man was last seen Saturday night, after he jumped off a cliff into the lake and didn't resurface, according to the Pedernales Fire Department and the TCSO.
Rescue teams were called to the 19500 block of Lakehurst Loop area around 5:50 p.m. Saturday. Crews from Pedernales Fire Department, Travis County ESD No. 6, Travis County ESD No. 1, Austin-Travis County EMS, Travis County STAR Flight and the Travis County Sheriff's Office responded to the call.
Rescue swimmers went into the water, but after an extensive search, the investigation was turned over to the TCSO at around 6:37 p.m. The TSCO Lake Patrol searched until nightfall.
Search efforts began again on Sunday morning at 7 a.m. and again continued until nightfall.
When efforts resumed Monday morning, a body was found by 7:18 a.m. Recovery efforts concluded at 8:02 a.m. The TSCO said out of respect for the family involved and because there is currently no indication of a crime committed, it will not be releasing the name of the victim.
KVUE spoke with Sarah Wright, who has lived in the area for around four years. She said neighbors see people jumping into the water all the time, but she doesn't think it's safe because the water isn't that deep. She was at home when she learned what happened on Saturday.
"I heard sirens. We heard CareFlight, and I just looked at my husband and said, 'It's a jumper.' Because we were in the cove last Saturday – at the exact same time, actually – with a group of friends. People were jumping off the cliffs, doing backflips, and we were all cringing," she said. "All of us live here, and that's our cove. That's where we go hang out. And we were saying, 'Hey, guys, don't do it.' Because if you don't hit the exact right spot over there right now, it's a potentially fatal situation."
The TCSO issued a reminder to lake visitors that the best way to ensure their safety is to wear a life jacket. The agency also cautions lake-goers to be aware of the dangers of cliff jumping as lake levels remain low.