Woman's Body Recovered Near Hurst Creek In Lake Travis

Austin TX

14 September, 2021

9:10 AM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — A swimmer who went missing on Sept. 6 near Hurst Creek in Lake Travis was recovered on Saturday, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office. The woman's body was found Sept. 11 using a remotely operated camera and recovered from a depth of 124 feet. An autopsy has been conducted and final results are pending. The woman's identity will not be revealed out of respect for the family, authorities said Monday. At 4:36 p.m. Sept. 6, TCSO and other agencies responded to a report of a missing swimmer in Lake Travis near Hurst Creek. According to witnesses, two couples with boating experience, rented a sailboat. Later on, a woman decided to go swimmer near the boat. She began to struggle in the water and was not able to reach a life jacket that was nearby and tethered to the boat. Live in Austin? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. A man, who was on the boat, jumped in the water and attempted to rescue the woman; however, he was unable to help her before she went under, officials said. Authorities said there were attempts to locate and rescue the missing woman, but they were unsuccessful, and the call soon became a recovery. TCSO said the department searched for the missing woman by conducting shoreline, surface and aerial drone searches and using various types of sonar and a remotely operated underwater camera. Kristen Dark, a spokesperson for the department, said a total of ten swimmers have been reported missing in Lake Travis this year. One swimmer, who went missing on Aug. 7 between Starnes Island North Shore, remains missing. This year marks the most missing swimmers in the lake in the last decade. The only years to have a high number of missing swimmers were 2018 with eight missing (one who still remains missing) and 2011 with eight missing/recovered, according to data provided by the department. Clara Tuma, a spokesperson for the Lower Colorado River Authority, said Lake Travis is a "flooded canyon" and encompasses 19,044 acres and is more than 175 feet deep. She said the lake is similar to the land seen on the shore and is filled with trees, steep drop offs, cliffs and gradually sloping areas. "Swimmers can be in a few feet of water in one location and in 100 feet of water a few steps further out," Tura said. RELATED COVERAGE: 2 Men Who Went Missing On Lake Travis Recovered Husband, Wife's Bodies Recovered From Lake Travis Body Of Donna Man Found In Lake Travis 1 Dead, 1 Still Missing Near Hudson Bend On Lake Travis