The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office urges caution when recreating in local rivers following the drowning death of an Arcata woman last week.

On July 23, 2021, at about 6:18 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Trinity River at Kimtu Beach for the report of a possible drowning.

According to the reporting party, a 22-year-old female victim had been swept under by the river’s current. The female was recovered from the river and CPR was initiated.

Yurok Tribal Police officers and medical personnel were first to arrive on scene and performed life-saving efforts on the victim. Despite these efforts, the victim succumbed to her injuries.

An autopsy of the victim has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 27.

Residents and visitors to Humboldt County are urged to take extreme caution while recreating in local rivers and the ocean. If you do decide to swim in the local rivers this summer, the Sheriff’s Office offers some safety tips:

• Be sure to check river levels and flow information with the National Weather Service, in addition to water release information for the Trinity River.
• Never swim alone.
• Avoid swimming into a fast-moving current. If the current seems too strong, get out of the water.
• Don’t consume alcohol while swimming.
• Inflatable water toys should not be used in place of a life jacket. Young children should wear a life jacket when swimming in the river. Watch children at all times.