Officials say man drowned at lake

Burleson County officials Monday confirmed the identity of a man found dead a day earlier at Lake Somerville.

Game Warden Sophie Hyatt said 44-year-old Houston resident Carlos Avalos was swimming with his wife and friends Sunday afternoon at Welch Park when the incident happened.

"We understand he was a non-swimmer and had waded out a couple hundred yards," Hyatt said. "Witnesses and his wife said they had been wading in about chest-deep water when he apparently hit a deeper drop-off and slipped under the water and disappeared."

Hyatt said state and park officials recovered Avalos' body about an hour and a half later. Hyatt said it appears the man drowned, although autopsy results are required to confirm the cause of death.

She said officials also were waiting on toxicology reports.

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3 comment(s) found!

Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 12:04 PM

Comment Title: Fair judgement?
At 44, this man had ample time to reproduce, so your natural selection theory doesn't apply. Authorities are waiting for toxicology results, so the man may have been under the influence. If everyone who gets high, on alcohol or anything else, died before they could reproduce, it would sure solve the world's problems - which are overpopulation and stupidity.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 11:53 AM

Comment Title: Natural Selection Strikes Again
I feel for his family as well, however, I have no remorse for such stupid actions. If you know you can't swim and choose to wade into water that could be potentially be over your head, then natural selection usually takes over and you are removed from the gene pool. In NO WAY is it governments role to hold your hand, ask "Can the adult grown up swim? If not, then you have to wear a life jacket" or provide a lifeguard every three feet for the morons of the world. Someone that stupid to begin with would lie, say they know how to swim and drown anyway. What an absurd suggestion!
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 10:15 AM

Comment Title: Too many drownings
I'm very sorry for this family's loss, and in response, I propose a new rule: park personnel ask anyone who nears a lake if they swim. If the answer is no, a life jacket is required. The rule is for adults as well as children. People who don't swim, shouldn't go in the water without a life jacket, even in a boat.
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