Crime & Safety
Friends Said Berryessa Drowning Victim Swam Far from Boat
"They tried to reach him but couldn't," said Napa County Sheriff's Capt. Tracey Stuart. Sitaniselao Juliest Beck "Tani" Tau drowned in Lake Berryessa Saturday after swimming away from his friends' boat. By Bay City News Service.
An autopsy has revealed nothing suspicious about the death of a San Mateo man drowned at Lake Berryessa on Saturday afternoon, a Napa County Sheriff's captain said today.
Sitaniselao Juliest Beck Tau, 24, was on a pontoon boat with friends in the "Narrows" area at the south end of the lake west of Little Portuguese Canyon, Capt. Tracey Stuart said.
Friends said Tau, whom they described as a good swimmer, jumped and swam far from the boat before he disappeared under water around 1:40 p.m., Stuart said.
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"They tried to reach him but couldn't," Stuart said.
A sheriff's dive team arrived and worked to determine where Tau had last been seen, Stuart said.
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The dive team returned Sunday and searched for about seven hours
before Tau's body was found at 4:40 p.m. in 30 feet of water, Stuart said.
An autopsy on Monday found nothing suspicious about the death, which is considered a drowning, but the coroner's office is still awaiting toxicology test results, Stuart said.
There were conflicting reports about whether Tau was drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana before he jumped off the boat, Stuart said.
Tau would have turned 25 on Monday, Stuart said.
By Bay City News Service.
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