Man dead after drowning at Lake Meredith over weekend

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - A Borger man is dead after he drowned at Lake Meredith Saturday evening.

According to the Hutchinson County Sherriff’s Office, on Saturday, May 23, at around 5:30 p.m. Ascencion Fernandez and his daughter were on a boat in the lake near Cedar Canyon when his daughter fell overboard.

Fernandez jumped into the water without a life jacket to help her, when he began drowning with nobody around.

By the time his family was able to reach him, he head already drowned. Park Rangers and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wardens were on the scene in about five minutes and began CPR.

Life saving efforts by Lake Meredith NRA staff, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and ambulance staff were unsuccessful.

The HCSO says Fernandez’s daughter is safe.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect new information from the National Park Service.