A search for a missing swimmer at a popular Austin-area lake shifted to a recovery operation Saturday after the person disappeared beneath the water, accoring to Austin-Travis County EMS.
Austin-Travis County EMS responded around 12:05 p.m. to the 19000 block of Silver Maple Drive in western Travis County after receiving reports of a swimmer who went underwater and did not resurface. Lake Travis Fire Rescue, Travis County Emergency Services District No. 1 and STAR Flight also responded to the scene.
Despite search efforts, the swimmer was not located. ATCEMS said the response transitioned from a rescue operation to recovery efforts Saturday afternoon. Authorities have not released the swimmer’s identity or said what led up to the incident.
The response comes after weeks of heavy rain left many Central Texas waterways running high and fast. Although the incident did not occur in an area covered by Austin’s temporary waterway restrictions, city officials recently extended a ban on recreational activity at Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake and portions of the Colorado River through Saturday because of dangerous currents, floating debris and poor underwater visibility caused by ongoing floodgate operations.
Officials continue to urge swimmers and boaters to use caution as water conditions remain unpredictable across Central Texas.