Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 | 8:44 p.m.
A Southern California man drowned Sunday in Lake Mohave while trying to swim to his daughter, whose inflatable raft was being blown by the wind.
The National Park Service and Metro Police divers recovered the body of 45-year-old Derek Au at about 5:30 p.m. in Mesa Cove. The drowning was reported at 11:33 a.m. by Cottonwood Cove Resort staff who overheard a distress call on marine band radio.
The Park Service said Au was with family on a houseboat that was beached while Au's 11-year-old daughter was floating on an inflatable raft. Witnesses told authorities that the wind started to carry the raft away from the boat, prompting Au to jump into the water and swim to his daughter.
He swam about 50 to 60 feet from the boat when he went under the water and never resurfaced.
Another family member was able to swim to the girl and bring her back to the boat.
This is the 11th drowning this year in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Au wasn't wearing a life jacket, the Park Service said.
His body has been turned over to the Clark County Coroner’s Office. Au is from the Los Angeles area, but the exact city wasn't known Sunday night.
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