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Jul 3, 2008 5:58 pm US/Central
Family Grieves After Dad Drowns In Fort Worth Lake
Marianne Martinez
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ―
A warning after a Fort Worth father died doing what hundreds of people will do this holiday weekend. Martin Tavera drowned Thursday night while swimming after a raft at Marine Creek Lake. Today Tavera's family searches for answers as to how he drowned.
Rescuers found Tavera's body Thursday night and were able to recover it this morning.
Friday family members said they're still struggling, trying to understand how the 45-year-old drowned.
"He just wanted to take a little swim," explained Tavera's son, Jaime. "I don't know if he cramp or anything like that."
Tavera was at Marine Creek Lake, with his daughter when her air mattress floated off. He swam out to retrieve it, and was about 100 yards away from the shore when he screamed for help.
Swimmers in the area tried to rescue the man, but say he had already gone under. Rescue crews arrived within minutes. During the search, friends and family gathered at the shore, hoping rescuers could save Tavera.
After searching for more than two hours rescuers found Tavera at the bottom of the lake.
Jaime Tavera says his father was a good swimmer and in good shape. His father had been on a baseball league for 20 years. Friday morning, Jaime went to the baseball field that his father used to take him to. "I went to the park. I thought he was going to be there but he wasn't."
Martin Tavera is survived by his wife of more than 20 years, two sons, a daughter and dozens of friends and extended family members.
The medical examiner has performed an autopsy, but it still isn't clear what caused Tavera to drown.
Experts say anyone around the water should take basic safety steps.
1- Limit alcohol consumption
2- Watch children around the water
3- Know your limitations
4- Be careful around lakes you're not familiar with
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