COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources responded to an apparent drowning at Lake Manawa on Monday, May 28, 2018.
The drowning happened in the swimming area near the Lake Manawa beach around 1:15pm, when Edgar Gregorio Loarca Garcia, 16, of Omaha, Nebraska went under the water and did not resurface. It is believed that Garcia was a non-experienced swimmer.
This death does not appear to be suspicious, and an autopsy will be conducted on Garcia. The swimming area at the Lake Manawa beach will likely be closed for the remainder of the week.
The investigation into this apparent drowning continues. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Parks Bureau and Law Enforcement Bureau were assisted by the Council Bluffs Fire Department, Omaha Fire Department Dive Team, Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department and Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office.