A 17-year-old boy died Thursday after going into the American River near Auburn, authorities said.
The teen was last seen in the water around 10:30 a.m. near the confluence of the Middle Fork and North Fork of the river, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. A witness called 911 after he did not resurface.
Search crews recovered his body downstream hours later.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those who knew and loved him,” the sheriff’s office said in an update posted at 2:55 p.m.
The boy had been with a group of friends and jumped into the river, authorities said.
Multiple agencies responded in a coordinated search that involved dive teams, drones and a helicopter.
The incident occurred in the Auburn State Recreation Area, where warning signs caution visitors about strong currents and hazardous rapids.
Authorities have repeatedly warned that rivers across California are running faster and colder than usual as warming temperatures accelerate snowmelt. What may appear calm on the surface can quickly turn dangerous, authorities said, with powerful currents and cold water capable of overwhelming even strong swimmers.
Last month, a 19-year-old Petaluma man died after disappearing while swimming in the Truckee River during a heat wave, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. His body was recovered after a multiday search involving multiple agencies.
This article originally published at Teen dies after jumping into American River in Northern California, authorities say.