CLEARLAKE PARK – A man who initially was believed to have drowned in an incident last weekend appears instead to have died of a heart attack.

Roger Alvin Machado, 73, was pronounced dead at St. Helena Hospital Clearlake Sunday night after doctors were unable to revive him, according to a report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Bauman said sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the scene at around 7:40 p.m. Sunday on the report of a possible drowning.

When deputies arrived, rescue personnel from Lake County Fire and Clearlake Police were already on scene, performing life saving protocols on Machado, Bauman said.

Lake County Fire continued their efforts to save Machado while transporting him to the Saint Helena Clearlake Hospital, Bauman said. However, despite having “very faint” signs of life on arrival there, emergency room staff were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced deceased.

Machado’s friend of 10 years, Joanne Simpson, and her daughter, Kathy Shrever, told deputies Machado and Shrever had gone down to the lake for a swim with Machado’s dog after having dinner, Bauman said.

Shrever said she watched Machado dive into the lake but he never surfaced, according to Bauman's report. After several minutes, Shrever saw Machado’s water shoes surface so she began screaming for help.

Bauman said several unidentified neighbors reportedly responded to the water and were eventually able to find Machado and pull him to shore.

An autopsy was performed on Machado Thursday morning at the Jones and Lewis Mortuary in Lower Lake and a preliminary cause of death indicates that he did not actually drown, but rather died of heart failure, according to Bauman. A final cause of death is pending the results of a toxicology screening.

Sheriff Rod Mitchell and his staff extended their condolences to Machado's loved ones and commended the citizens who acted swiftly and bravely in trying to save Machado’s life.

 

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