MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Yuba County Sheriff’s Office has identified the teenager who drowned in the Feather River on July 4, as 16-year-old Nathan Drake of Marysville.

Emergency crews were called to the scene near the Star Bend boat ramp around 5:30 p.m. on Independence Day after witnesses reported that a young man had gone under while swimming with a group of friends. Witnesses said Drake may have entered the water either with a friend or to help one, but soon began to struggle in the river’s deep, fast-moving current.

A multi-agency response—including the Yuba County Technical Rescue Team, local fire departments, and aerial support from the Yuba Sutter Aero Squadron—searched the area until nightfall halted efforts. Drake’s body was recovered the following afternoon around 3:30 p.m. from a depth of approximately 17 feet.

Authorities urge the public to be cautious when swimming in rivers, where hidden drop-offs and strong currents can pose significant danger even to strong swimmers.