Home » Mariposa » Searchers Find Body Of Mariposa Man Swept Away In Merced River

Searchers Find Body Of Mariposa Man Swept Away In Merced River

MARIPOSA COUNTY — The search for a Mariposa man who went missing on Friday, June 23, has ended tragically with the discovery of his body.

Ronnie Cole, 19, was located by searchers approximately three miles upriver from the Bagby Campground area.

Cole had gone to the Briceburg area of the Merced River known as “Cable Beach,” to swim with two female friends.

Ronnie reportedly jumped into the water wearing blue jeans and shoes, and was swept away.

Though hundreds of man-hours were spent searching, involving numerous agencies, friends and family members, the efforts was unsuccessful.

In the afternoon of Saturday, July 1, the Mariposa County Emergency Dispatch Center received a 911 call stating the caller had located what they believed to be a body in the water.

Units from the Mariposa County Boating Division, Detectives and Search and Rescue personnel responded to the area and located Cole’s body, upriver from the Bagby Recreation Area, approximately eight miles downriver from where he was last seen.

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all those who assisted in this operation.

The Sheriff warns everyone to please be aware of the potentially dangerous conditions in our rivers and streams right now due to massive snow melt, and take extra care when you are in and around moving water.

One comment

  1. So sad 🙁 It’s terrible to lose one of our young people.

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Sierra News Online

Sierra News Online