Two brothers were found dead in a Northern California river after authorities launched a search for a man who had been seen struggling in the water.
On Sep 16, deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office were called to Tagmeyer Beach in Willow Creek at around 10:14 a.m. after receiving a report about a man who had been seen struggling to swim in the Trinity River the previous day. When deputies arrived, the man's vehicle was still parked nearby.
Authorities began an extensive search of the river and the surrounding river bar. During the operation, search crews discovered two bodies in the water. They were later identified as brothers Lex Rincon, 45, of Arcata, California, and Krishna “Ganesh” Rincon, 18, of New York.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remained under investigation. Police said the deaths appeared consistent with drowning, but the cause and manner of death were still officially unknown pending autopsies.
The brothers' deaths came as the river was drawing visitors during the summer, prompting renewed concern about the dangers of its waters. Local reporting has noted that strong currents and changing water conditions can make portions of the Trinity River hazardous for swimmers.
Friends remembered Lex as kind, determined, creative and funny. They also spoke warmly of his younger brother, Ganesh, describing him as gentle and curious. A verified GoFundMe campaign was created to help the family with travel expenses following the unexpected deaths.
The fundraiser had collected more than $14,600, with much of the brothers' family living in New York and needing to travel to California. The page described their deaths as an unexpected and devastating loss.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office also extended condolences to the brothers' family, friends and loved ones. Investigators continued working to determine exactly what happened before the two men entered the river.
For now, authorities have not announced a final cause of death. The recovery of both brothers followed a search that began with a report of one man struggling in the water, leaving their family and community facing a heartbreaking double loss.