San Marcos River Searches

On three consecutive weekends TEXSAR was called to aid in searches for missing swimmers along the San Marcos River.

The first search started with a call on the evening of August 9 for a 20-year-old male tuber had been missing since that afternoon near Martindale, TX. Units from Chisholm Trail Fire Rescue‘s swift water rescue team, San Marcos SMART Divers, TEXSAR, Maxwell VFD, Martindale Vol. Fire Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Caldwell County Sheriffs Office and the Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management worked through the night and into the next morning until the young man was located and recovered.

The second call came on August 16 at 6:30 AM.  TEXSAR K9, flood and swiftwater, and air assets were requested by the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office to assist them and theTexas Parks and Wildlife Department in the search for a man who had not returned from tubing on the San Marcos River.  However, while the teams conducted their morning briefing, the missing person was found walking on the side of the road and returned safely.

The third search came on August 24.  At the request of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TEXSAR deployed 3 canine teams, 3 flood and swiftwater personnel, and an inflatable rescue boat to Palmetto State Park in Gonzales County to assist in the search for a swimmer who had gone missing Saturday night.  After several hours of searching in difficult water, the body of the swimmer was located and recovered.

TEXSAR would like to thank the many partner organizations that aided in these search efforts.  TEXSAR will always be ready for the next call and always continue its mission of Texans Helping Texans.