AUSTIN, Texas — Rescue operations have now transitioned to recovery mode for a missing adult who Austin-Travis County EMS said went underwater and failed to resurface in Lake Travis.
Around 5 p.m. on Saturday, ATCEMS responded to a call from 5973 Hiline Road about a missing swimmer.
According to ATCEMS, multiple rescue assets from Lake Travis Fire Rescue, Lake Patrol and the Travis County Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene and utilized a side-scan radar to begin searching for the swimmer. Initial search efforts were in the area of mile marker 10 and in 80-100 feet of water.
STARFlight Travis County also arrived on the scene and began an overhead search. Rescue boats are reporting that missing swimmer's boat was anchored in 80-90 feet of water.
According to ATCEMS, the side-scan radar is currently not identifying the location of the missing swimmer.
As of 5:30 p.m, ATCEMS reported that rescue operations are now transitioning to recovery, and recovery efforts will be turned over to law enforcement.
According to the Travis County Sheriff's Office (TCSO), the missing swimmer has been identified by family as Lonnie Gray, 28 of Navasota, Texas. He was last seen swimming in an area of Lake Travis that is 85-130 feet deep.
TCSO said search efforts by various emergency services were continuous throughout the week. Deputies started shoreline searches daily, at 6:00 am. and TCSO’s entire fleet of boats actively searched using various types of sonar.
According to TCSO, Texas Parks & Wildlife also assisted nearly every day, using their deep sonar. On July 13, Austin Police Department searched using their sonar and Houston Police Department searched using their 360 sonar on July 14. TCSO’s Dive Team remained on stand-by to dive whenever a viable location was identified. Search dogs and underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) were also used in the recovery efforts.
TCSO says Gray is one of three swimmers reported missing on Lake Travis within the last 10 years who have not been recovered. In May 2018, Manuel Salas of Elgin was last reportedly seen near Mansfield Dam and in July 2014, Song Hy Sok of Dallas was last reportedly seen in the Sandy Creek Arm.
No further information is available.
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