The woman swept away by California’s river while trying to save sister

Officials are looking for a woman swept away by a “cold, fast and dangerous” river in Sequoia National Park.

A 26-year-old woman recreated with friends and family in Sequoia National Park near a river at the foot on Sunday 25 May, when the incident occurred, National Park Service said in a statement.

According to a GofundmeThe woman, identified as Jomarie Calasanz, jumped in the water that day to save her sister.

“What would be a fun, binding moment quickly turned into a traumatic event that will stick to us forever,” the organizer wrote in a message. “While taking the first dip of the day in fraudulent calm water, Joanne, Jomaries older sister, began to be swept away.”

“With a bravely loving heart and a fantastic courage, Jomarie, who was a swimmer, immediately swam to save his sister. Both were quickly swept into the rapids. While the river released Joanne, it is our deepest regret to inform everyone that Jomarie has not yet been found,” the organizer continued.

Calasanz graduated from San Francisco State University and served a political science degree in 2020, according to her LinkedIn profile. Her Alma Mater released a statement and called her a “light, compassionate and driven student,” Fox branch KTTV reported.

The National Park Service urged people to be “extremely cautious” near waterways and added that even strong swimmers have been swept away.

“Visitors are warned to avoid recreating themselves near the river this time of year, as tempting as it may be with heating temperatures,” said a NPS spokesman. “Most people who drown in the parks never thought of swimming or getting into the water.”

A National Park Service Website Says that the most dangerous times for the park’s rivers are in the spring and early summer, when melting snow flow from the mountains makes the water fast and chilly.

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“All rivers in Sequoia and Kings Canyon are potentially dangerous and require great care,” reads the site. “While recovery in the parks’ lakes and rivers can be tempting, drowning is the main cause of death here.”