Man, 20, drowns in Beaver Lake

A 20-year-old man drowned Saturday evening at Rocky Branch Marina in Beaver Lake.

David Hart, 20, of Springdale died while swimming in the swimming-only area, said Keshia Guyll, public information officer for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

“He was where he was supposed to be, and he dove down and didn’t resurface,” Guyll said.

Friends reported the incident within minutes, Guyll said, adding that the call came in at 6:20 p.m.

Others jumped in after Hart, including members of the Rocky Branch Fire Department, said Alan Bland, a park ranger.

The Benton County Dive Team was called, and a diver found Hart’s body in 12 feet of water just before dark. Once divers entered the water, it took about 35 minutes to locate his body. Every drowning has to be treated as a crime scene, and searchers cannot tamper with evidence, Bland said.

There was no indication of foul play in Hart’s death, and there will be no further investigation, Guyll said.

It is the first drowning in Beaver Lake this year, Bland said.

There have been 115 recorded drownings in Beaver Lake, five of them last year, Bland said.