An 18-year-old Cal State Fullerton student was flooded with waters that were rapidly moving in popular entertainment destinations, and a fraternity trip to Lake Havasu ended the tragedy over the weekend.
Simon Daniel disappeared while swimming in the Copper Canyon area about 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Officials said his body was found around 8:54 a.m. the next morning.
Drowning is the first of at least two emergencies for college students whose sheriff’s department responded to the weekend.
Tanner Prentis, a 22-year-old University of California Santa Barbara student, went missing on Saturday night with friends from Big Bear Lake. His body was found in the water on Monday.
The Sigma pi fraternity said in a statement that Daniel was “the heart of the fraternity” and “lighted every room with his bright smile.” The freshman computer science major is from Pinole and is known for “a love for music, unlimited energy and a friendly smile.”
According to the Brotherhood, Daniel entered the waters of the Havasu River and Lake with three brothers and joined the two brothers on the journey.
The fraternity wrote that the organization was not aware that recent rainfall has caused dangerous swimming conditions, including strong currents, cross winds and bulges. According to the Brotherhood, after suddenly finding himself in trouble, several other Brotherhood brothers “heroically risked their lives” to try to rescue the six students.
But Daniel was swept away by sudden waves, separated from one of the rescuers and disappeared below the surface.
Rescue teams from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the Mojave County Sheriff’s Department deployed divers to the place Daniel last saw.
Divers searched for water and deployed sonar scanners to search for Daniel until nightfall. On Sunday morning, divers found and recovered his body with the help of a remotely operated vehicle.
More than 200 students participated in Daniel’s candlelight vigil on Sunday night.
“Simon's mother and a community that deeply mourns her loss of loved ones and brothers,” the fraternity wrote.
Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara both provide crisis counseling services to help students deal with sudden deaths.
