A fraternity trip to Lake Havasu turned tragic over the weekend when an 18-year-old Cal State Fullerton student drowned in the swift-moving waters at the popular recreation spot, as per authorities. Simon Daniel vanished below the surface while swimming in the Copper Canyon area around 3 p.m. on Saturday, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. His body was discovered around 8:54 a.m. the following morning, officials reported.
The drowning marked the first of at least two emergencies involving college students that the Sheriff’s Department dealt with over the weekend. Tanner Prentis, a 22-year-old UC Santa Barbara student, went missing after a night out with friends in Big Bear Lake on Saturday. His body was found in the water on Monday. In a statement, the Sigma Pi fraternity described Daniel as “the heart of the fraternity” who “brightened every room with his brilliant smile.” The freshman computer science major from Pinole was known for his “love of music, boundless energy, and kind smile.” According to the fraternity, Daniel entered the water at Lake Havasu River with three fraternity brothers and two sorority members who joined them on the trip.
The group was oblivious to the hazardous swimming conditions caused by recent rainfall, including strong currents, crosswinds, and swells, the fraternity stated. After finding themselves in distress all of a sudden, several fraternity brothers “heroically risked their own lives” to try to rescue the six students, according to the fraternity. However, Daniel was swept away by a sudden wave, separated from one of the rescuers, and disappeared beneath the surface. Rescue teams from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the Mohave County Sheriff’s Department dispatched divers to the spot where Daniel was last seen, authorities mentioned. Divers searched the water and used sonar scanners to look for Daniel until nightfall. On Sunday morning, divers located and retrieved his body with the help of a remotely operated vehicle. Over 200 students attended a candlelit vigil for Daniel on Sunday night. “Simon is survived by his mother and a community of loved ones and brothers who deeply mourn his loss,” the fraternity wrote. Both Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara are offering crisis counseling services to help students cope with the sudden deaths.
