Body of Man Who Drowned Recovered at Lopez Lake

Sergio MendiolaGarcia, 25, of Santa Maria, died after being pulled under by strong currents.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 6:06am

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Dive Team recovered the body of a 25-year-old man who drowned at Lopez Lake on Sunday afternoon. Sergio MendiolaGarcia was swimming with two friends when the water became choppy, and he was pulled under by the current and did not resurface.

Why it matters

Drownings at lakes and other bodies of water are a tragic but unfortunately common occurrence, especially during the warmer months when more people are drawn to recreational water activities. This incident highlights the importance of water safety and the need for caution when swimming in natural bodies of water with unpredictable conditions.

The details

According to authorities, MendiolaGarcia was swimming with two friends at Lopez Lake when the water became choppy. While his two friends were able to get out of the water, the current pulled MendiolaGarcia further from shore. One of his friends tried to throw a pair of pants to him to pull him in, but MendiolaGarcia went under and did not resurface. The search was suspended on Sunday evening due to limited visibility, but the dive team resumed the search on Monday morning and located his body shortly before noon.

  • On Sunday afternoon, MendiolaGarcia was swimming at Lopez Lake.
  • The search was suspended on Sunday evening around 8 p.m. due to limited visibility.
  • The dive team resumed the search on Monday morning.
  • Shortly before noon on Monday, divers located MendiolaGarcia's body.

The players

Sergio MendiolaGarcia

A 25-year-old man from Santa Maria who drowned at Lopez Lake.

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Dive Team

The team that recovered MendiolaGarcia's body from Lopez Lake.

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The takeaway

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of water safety and the need for caution when swimming in natural bodies of water, where conditions can change rapidly and unexpectedly. It also highlights the critical role of first responders and search and rescue teams in recovering victims and providing closure to grieving families.