Drowning Incident near Kyburz

On 7/9/16, 2016,  at 4:09 pm, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office was advised of a rafting accident on the South Fork of the American River in the Kyburz area.

According to the 911 call, several people had been rafting in inner tubes on the South Fork of the American River in the China Flat Campground area, and after going through a section of rapids, one of the parties was now missing.

CAL FIRE, County Fire, and Deputies responded to the area and began an immediate search of the area.

At 4:45 pm, the victim was located submerged in a section of very heavy rapids, and a recovery effort was started.

At 6:00 pm, the victim was removed from the water and pronounced deceased by paramedics.

The victim has been identified as 32 year old Elaine Yi Mau, of San Francisco.  The accident is under investigation by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Boating Safety Unit and by the Coroner’s office.  At this time it has not been determined if the victim was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.