Two die at area lakes

Monday, June 16, 2003 | 9:38 a.m.

A Father's Day outing at Lake Mead turned tragic Sunday when a California man who had been riding a personal watercraft with his 8-year-old son drowned, officials said.

After the two jumped a wake on the watercraft near Sand Island and Government Wash, David Harris apparently struck his head on the handlebars and fell into the water.

Although Harris was wearing a life jacket, he fell face forward into the water, and his son was could not turn him over. The boy headed back to the family's camp site on the watercraft to get help, Roxanne Dey, a National Park Service spokeswoman, said.

Rangers received the call for help at 12:50 p.m. and pulled Harris from the water about 1:20 p.m., Dey said.

She praised the boy for his courage. "He did an amazing job" considering the circumstances, Dey said.

The family was visiting Lake Mead from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Counselors took the boy and his family from the lake to an undisclosed location after the accident, Dey said.

Harris was the second person who died at area lakes this weekend.

In an accident at about 3 p.m. Saturday, a 25-year old Southern California man died after diving off a cliff in an area known as Gasoline Alley on Lake Mohave.

Officials said Kevin Niles did not surface after jumping into an estimated 45 to 50 feet of water.

Divers discovered his body about 40 minutes later, Dey said.

National Park Service rangers caution all visitors against cliff diving.

There have been a total of 16 fatal accidents at Lake Mead National Recreation Area this year including the two drownings this weekend.