Two Drown in Beaver Lake

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

BENTONVILLE -- The Labor Day holiday ended Monday with two drownings on Beaver Lake.

Divers recovered the bodies of Sean Kelley, 21, and Wilson Laibwij, 17, both of Springdale, after they drowned in separate incidents.

Kelley was swimming with friends near Martin's Bluff, according to Keshia Guyll, public information deputy for the Benton County Sheriff's Office. Kelley's friends saw him go under the water and he never resurfaced, Guyll said.

A call was received at 4:56 p.m. Monday and divers were in the water about 94 minutes later, Guyll said.

Kelley's body was found at 8 p.m., Guyll said.

"His mother said he had a history of seizures, but we don't know if that was involved," Guyll said Tuesday.

The second drowning was reported at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Horseshoe Bend.

Laibwij was with family and friends at the lake, Guyll said.

Laibwij was racing a friend and he began to struggle in the water, Guyll said.

"He went under, but resurfaced," she said.

Laibwij went under water a second time and never resurfaced, Guyll said.

Divers recovered his body at 11:15 p.m., Guyll said.

"They said he was a strong swimmer," Guyll said.

Officials do not believe alcohol or drugs was involved in either incident, Guyll said.

There has been one other drowning in the lake this year, Guyll said.

Elijah Watson, 19, of Bentonville drowned in July when he and two other people were swimming from a point at Martin's Bluff to the other side of the lake.

NW News on 09/03/2014