SAR turns into recovery mission above Bass Lake

Madera County Sheriff's Department

(Updated: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 6:29 PM)

The Madera County Sheriff's Dive Team recovered the body of 14-year-old Lermont Smith, who fell into the swift waters in the lower pool of Angel Falls last Wednesday The area is located off Road 274 above Bass Lake.

Smith was with family when he slipped on a slick rock and fell into the rough water.

Deputies were told that at one point he managed to grab hold of a rock but was forced under water by the swift current.

Two relatives -- one of whom sustained minor injuries -- tried desperately to rescue the boy, but were unable to reach him.

The accident happened shortly after 1 p.m. His body was recovered around 5:30 p.m. that day.

Sgts. Mark Stritzel and Mike Pace, veteran members of the department's dive team, managed the swift waters via rope.

It took more than two hours for them to reach the boy wedged under a rock under water.

The family, visiting from Southern California, was vacationing at Bass Lake.