{"id":422039,"date":"2026-08-02T22:14:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T22:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/422039\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T22:14:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T22:14:10","slug":"teen-found-dead-after-going-missing-while-rafting-in-picturesque-california-park-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/422039\/","title":{"rendered":"Teen found dead after going missing while rafting in picturesque California park"},"content":{"rendered":"

A search-and-recovery operation ended in tragedy Sunday afternoon after authorities located the body of a missing 17-year-old boy in the Stanislaus River.<\/p>\n

Emergency personnel first responded to reports of a swimmer in distress Saturday afternoon at Caswell Memorial State Park in San Joaquin County.<\/p>\n

\"Emergency<\/p>\n

Emergency personnel first responded to reports of a swimmer in distress Saturday afternoon at Caswell Memorial State Park. Courtesy of California State Parks, 2026<\/p>\n

Because crews from the Ripon Consolidated Fire Department were actively battling a vegetation fire<\/a> at the time, the Manteca Fire Department initially stepped in to handle the dispatch.<\/p>\n

The victim has been identified by family members as Gabriel Santiago.<\/p>\n

His mother told KCRA<\/a> that Gabriel was out with friends when the incident occurred and described him as a loving child.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 17-year-old victim has been identified by family members as Gabriel Santiago. Obtained by the CA Post<\/p>\n

\"First<\/p>\n

First responders launched a multi-agency search around 4 p.m. Saturday, scouring the river and shoreline until dark. Courtesy of California State Parks, 2026<\/p>\n

Santiago was rafting when he went underwater and failed to resurface, according to the San Joaquin County<\/a> Sheriff’s Office.<\/p>\n

First responders launched a multi-agency search around 4 p.m. Saturday, scouring the river and shoreline until dark.<\/p>\n

Operations resumed Sunday morning and continued into the afternoon before searchers recovered his body.<\/p>\n

The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office is leading the ongoing investigation into the drowning, supported by its Boating Safety Unit, Unmanned Aircraft System drone team, and Ripon Fire personnel.<\/p>\n

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