Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010 | 1:03 p.m.
Apparent drowning
Metro Police divers and the National Park Service have recovered the body of an 18-year-old cliff diver from the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Officials said friends were diving from cliffs near Placer Cove at Lake Mohave at 4:30 p.m. Saturday when the victim jumped from a 30-foot ledge. A friend then dove in right after him and landed on the man, not realizing the first jumper hadn't cleared the area, officials said.
The victim immediately started to sink underwater, officials said. Three other friends jumped in to rescue the victim but were unsuccessful because his body was sinking too fast, authorities said.
Metro Police divers recovered the man's body at 10:30 p.m. Saturday in about 50 feet of water.
The Clark County Coroner's Office will identify the man, who is from Pahrump, after notifying family.
The location is just south of where State Route 165, which runs though the rural town of Nelson, ends at the Colorado River.
Park rangers urge cliff divers to be aware of water depth and their surroundings, especially people and debris, before diving.
NOTE: The National Park Service originally said the victim was 19, but later corrected his age to 18. The age has been changed in the story.
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