UPDATE: SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MAN PRESUMED DROWNED AT DIAMOND LAKE

Douglas Co. Sheriff's Office

DIAMOND LAKE, Ore. - Search efforts continued today in the search for a man who drowned at Diamond Lake on Saturday. 

For the past two days, deputies have searched for signs of the victim, 37 year old Chimanbai Patel of Bend, Oregon without success. On Saturday, August 17, 2024, at approximately 5:38 pm, 9-1-1 dispatchers received a report that Patel had been on a pontoon boat with friends at Diamond Lake when he jumped into the water to swim. Shortly after entering the water Patel went under and never resurfaced. 

Deputies have enlisted the assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Dive Team, Douglas County Search and Rescue, Klamath County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, and Oregon State Police. Today, a dog trained in water recovery was deployed on the lake with searchers. At this time, Patel remains missing.

“This is a tragedy for his friends and family,” Lt. Brad O'Dell said. “We have been in communication with his family and will continue efforts to locate him so he can be returned to his loved ones. We are very grateful to our partner agencies who have been assisting us in our search.”  

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