LOVELAND — The teenage boy rescued by a diver at Loveland Lake Monday afternoon died later that day.
Larimer County Medical Examiner's Office identified the teen as Zachariah Apodaca, 17, of Greeley.
At 2:29 p.m. Monday, Loveland Fire Rescue Authority was dispatched to Lake Loveland after Apodaca had been swimming with his friends and started to struggle. His friends reportedly attempted to assist him before he went underwater, said Greg Ward, division chief with Loveland Fire Rescue Authority.
The fire department, ambulance and a rescue truck responded to the scene. A rescue diver entered the water to search for Apodaca at 2:40 p.m. and had located him three minutes later, Ward said. The teen was taken to McKee Medical Center by ambulance.
The cause of death was ruled as cerebral hypoxia/edema due to asphyxia by drowning, according to the medical examiner's office. The manner of death was accidental.
Ward said the incident occurred about 200 feet north of the Lake Loveland Swim Beach area, which was closed Monday and remains closed through Wednesday, according to the city website.
A GoFundMe account was set up for Apodaca Tuesday. As of Wednesday morning, it had raised more than $3,250 from 71 donors.
