The tragedy is the second such incident in that stretch of river in roughly a year, and it comes just days after deputies rescued four rafters from a separate section of the waterway.
According to authorities, deputies were dispatched to the river near Cressey Bridge at 7:30 p.m. on July 11 after receiving a report of a drowning. Investigators learned the teenager had been swimming with relatives when he began struggling against the current and was pulled under. Witnesses told deputies they saw the boy submerge and never resurface.
The agency's helicopter immediately began to search the area while the department's Dive Rescue and Recovery Team mobilized on the ground. Divers deployed a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, and located the boy submerged at a depth of around 18 feet. Rescue divers recovered his body, and he was pronounced dead before being taken to the Merced County Coroner's Office for further examination.
Citing respect for the family and the victim's age, authorities said they would not release his identity. The sheriff's office said the case remains under active investigation.
Authorities noted the Cressey Bridge drowning resembles a fatal incident in the same location last July, when an adult man drowned under nearly identical circumstances after being overtaken by the current and failing to resurface.
The drowning follows closely on the heels of a river rescue just miles away.
Two adults and two juveniles—one of whom was partially paralyzed—had become trapped when their raft snagged on an object in the river. Deputies located the group and pulled them from the water, and the department's helicopter landed beside the river so crews could load the four onto the chopper and fly them back to Henderson Park to be treated. All four survived.
The sheriff's office separately noted that on July 7, deputies, again using the helicopter, safely rescued four additional people from the river near Snelling Park after their raft became stuck.
Calling the fatal incident "another tragic reminder that the Merced River can be extremely dangerous," the sheriff's office urged the public to prioritize safety when visiting local waterways. Officials outlined a list of precautions, including avoiding the water for those who cannot swim; wearing a properly fitted life jacket at all times; never underestimating the strength, speed, or temperature of moving water; and staying alert to submerged hazards, shifting currents, and debris.
The agency also advised against swimming or entering the river alone, recommended checking river and weather conditions beforehand, and urged parents to keep children within arm's reach under constant supervision.