Body of Canoga Park teen found after apparent drowning at Lake Havasu; 3 injured in attempted rescue

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. (KABC) — The body of a 16-year-old Canoga Park boy was found by a search and rescue team at the bottom of Lake Havasu the morning after he went missing while swimming, authorities said Monday.

The deceased victim, identified as Isaiah Benz, was located at 10:17 a.m. by Mohave County Sheriff’s Office divers using sonar technology in about 35 feet of water, the agency said in a statement.

According to investigators, on Sunday morning Isaiah was with a group from Palm Springs and Canoga Park on a rented pontoon that stopped in the lake’s South Basin.

“They then voluntarily exited the boat to go swimming,” the news release said. Due to high winds, the boat and its group became separated from Isaiah, “who began struggling in the water.”

The group boarded the boat in an attempt to rescue him, authorities said.

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One man was injured by one of the boat’s propellers during the rescue effort, and two other people nearly drowned. All three were hospitalized in stable condition.

DEVELOPING: More details will be added to this report as they become available.

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