A 26-year-old man from Los Angeles has been identified as the individual whose body was recovered from the Kern River last week.
Breyly Douglas Alonzo Composeco, originally from Guatemala, was reported missing on July 2. His lifeless body was discovered on the same day near the Sandy Flat Campground, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Douglas had been camping with his family when the tragic incident occurred. The exact cause of his death will be determined by the coroner’s office.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, the west-facing mouth of the Kern River Canyon has claimed the lives of 325 individuals over the past 55 years. KGET reported in May that more than 100 people have drowned in the river since 2000.
In light of these incidents, authorities strongly advise against swimming in the river due to its powerful currents. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death along the Kern River, as stated by the U.S. Forest Service.