Edhat Staff
Update by the edhat staff
July 13, 2023
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the male who died after drowning in the Red Rock pool area on Wednesday.
The decedent is identified as 22-year-old Roberto De La Cruz of Santa Barbara.
The final cause and manner of death are pending.
SBC Search & Rescue during a swift water training (Photo: SBCSAR)
By the edhat staff
July 12, 2023
One man has died after drowning in the Red Rock Pools off a popular hiking trail on Wednesday evening.
At 6:08 p.m., Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to the area for a reported medical emergency.
Captain Scott Safechuck states a 21-year-old male went missing from his group of friends after entering the water. He was found by the group and pulled to shore.
CPR and Advance Life Support were performed, however, the male was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has yet to be released.
Red Rock Trail is in the Santa Barbara backcountry and follows the Santa Ynez River which provides several large swimming holes along the trail.
The most popular area, “Red Rock Pools,” is 1/2 mile from the trailhead while more secluded pools are further upriver.
The area is listed as closed to the public, according to the Forest Service website.
Off Gibraltar?
Paradise Rd.
Oh no. I am so, so sorry.
That pool has taken many lives.
What is it at Red Rock that has taken so many lives?
Google dude. Start with kids going for an 80′ jump into a pretty small pool target.
Very sorry to see this, so sorry.
The serenity of the first pic vs 2nd pic is night and day.
Are they releasing from Gibraltar?, That’s a (un)healthy volume to be swimming in.
Chico – I don’t think either of those are current photos. The second one can’t be accurate for this story as it clearly states his friends pulled him out. I too am pretty familiar with those water holes and that doesn’t even look like this area. Not that it matters really but another area said this happened in a water hole just past the first crossing, not really back at Red Rock. Either way, very sad and my condolences to the family.
Very sorry to see this and condolences to the family, unfortunately the first drowning on the river this year with decent pools and water up there. Unlikely the last incident to occur I’m afraid. This was just past the first crossing and not at the Red Rock pools from the scanner.
Chico, I think the same thing. I biked and hiked that entire stretch of the river from Los Prietos (the first crossing) to just below Gibraltar Dam WELL OVER A MONTH AGO and never saw ANYTHING like what we’re seeing in the second photo. Gotta ask, Edhat/SBCSAR – what’s the deal?
The photos were posted by SBCSAR on their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=654598580034304&set=pcb.654598640034298
I remember there being some under water tunnels in some of those swimming holes, super dangerous! Such a terrible way to die, sad for his friends that were there and his family for the loss.
Read the caption, people: “SBC Search & Rescue during a swift water training”
Ah..Stock photos.
Common for news outlets.
Also, the area he drowned in sounds like Whiterock which is down by the first crossing.
So sad, I was literally just there with a group for the long 4th of July weekend, Camping and Recreating on that River. My condolences to the loved ones.