Second SoCal Boy Found Dead in Yosemite Nat'l Park

Jacob Adams was missing since August 15 when he and his brother were swept away in a river

The second of two Southern California boys swept away in a Yosemite river was recovered Thursday after more than a week of searching.

Six-year-old Jacob Adams of Yorba Linda and his brother, 10-year-old Andres โ€œAndyโ€ Adams of Fallbrook, were wading in the Merced River last Wednesday when they were swept downstream.

The two were camping in the national park on a church retreat with their mother.

Andy, who lived in Fallbrook with his mother, was found moments after. Park visitors pulled him from the river about 150 yards downstream, but efforts to resuscitate him failed. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

On Thursday, Yosemite Park Rangers located Jacob 50 yards downstream from the Vernal Fall Footbridge where the boys were first swept away.

โ€œFluctuating water levels in the Merced River, changing weather conditions, and treacherous terrain contributed to a difficult and challenging search,โ€ read a statement from the National Park Service.

Jacob lived in Yorba Linda with his father, according to our media partner the North County Times.

Water levels receded on Thursday, allowing rangers to continue the search.

The news came just a few hours after family members held a memorial for Andy in Fallbrook.

โ€œ[Andy] touched everybody,โ€ said his sister Angela Adams. โ€œHe made everybody love him. And he really helped keep this family together.

At the time of the memorial Thursday morning, Angela said she and her family still had hope that her other little brother would be found alive.

Follow NBC7 for the latest news, weather, and events: iPad App | iPhone App | Android App | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram | RSS | Text Alerts | Email Alerts

Contact Us