24-year-old drowns after jump from cliff, Arizona cops say. ‘My heart is broken’

A 24-year-old man died after jumping off a 20- to 30-foot-high cliff into a lake, Arizona sheriff’s officials reported.

Ethan Aguilar of Kingman began to struggle after hitting the water at Lake Havasu and sank out of sight on Saturday, Sept. 23, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department diver found his body in 18 feet of water near Standard Wash Cove, officials said.

Efforts to revive Aguilar were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead, the sheriff’s office said. He was not wearing a life jacket.

“This was my son’s best friend,” reads a comment on the sheriff’s post. “I’m absolutely devastated.”

“I can’t believe this!! Ethan was (an) awesome young man!” read another comment.

“My heart is broken into pieces, I don’t want to believe it, I miss you so much,” read a Facebook post by April Moroneso about Aguilar.

An investigation into his death continues, sheriff’s officials said.

Lake Havasu is on the border of Arizona and California.

What to know about drowning

At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.

Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.

“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”

This story was originally published September 25, 2023 at 7:57 AM with the headline "24-year-old drowns after jump from cliff, Arizona cops say. ‘My heart is broken’."