Boy, 5, drowns in shallow water at Lake Mead
A 5-year-old North Las Vegas boy drowned Sunday afternoon while playing in shallow water near Lake Mead’s Government Wash area.
According to the National Park Service, Ewign Cruz-Diaz’s body was recovered by a man who was at the lake with the family.
The boy had been left with his mother while other members of the group went to fish and swim in another part of the lake. When they returned the man noticed the boy was missing and searched the water until he found the body.
Authorities believe the boy was underwater between 20 and 40 minutes.
“What is most tragic about this is that the mother had a life jacket for the boy,” said Park Ranger Prashant Lotwala. “She thought it wasn’t needed because he wasn’t in deep water and she could watch him.”
Contact reporter Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512.