Emergency Crews Respond To Several 4th Of July Lake Drownings

Emergency response crews were busy at lakes across the state this weekend, responding to a string of drowning calls on the Fourth of July.

At least five drownings happened on the Fourth of July alone.

Police said 18-year-old Zach Tawwater was swimming with friends at Grand Lake on Independence Day when he jumped off the roof of a dock into the water.

Grand River Dam Authority Officers searched the lake, ultimately finding the body Saturday evening.

Police say they recovered another Grand Lake drowning victim Friday evening.

39-year-old Levi Gibson, from Afton, jumped from a boat to help a child who had fallen from a tube and never resurfaced, according to GRDA police.

At Keystone Lake, two drownings, a father and son, leave behind a grieving family.

"I never would have went to this lake if I knew something like this would happen. Never," Kenisha Richardson said.

Richardson lost her 14-year-old-son Jamarious and her husband Nathaniel in the Keystone Lake drowning.

She says her family was exploring a new part of the lake when the water got too deep.

"I was trying to stay above water to swim and then I heard my son saying help me mama help me, and I couldn't help him because I was drowning myself," Richardson said tearfully.

Meanwhile, 53-year-old Sean Mooney from Harrah drowned at Lake Thunderbird.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol says he was working on his boat when he fell in and didn't resurface.

Family members reported him missing around noon Thursday and troopers say he was found later that day.

"These are never fun calls for our fire department,” said Scott Douglas with Oklahoma City Fire, speaking about several drowning calls his department has faced this month. “Of course we're going to respond quickly, courteously, meet the need and do what we can to revive and save a life."

These holiday tragedies point to important reminders from first responders.

"If you're going to be out on the lake, we ask that you please wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. We know they're not cool, they're not always fun to wear, but this can save your life," Douglas said.