Rescuers have recovered the bodies of two canoers who went missing in a pond just east of Austin on Monday evening, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded that evening to a report that a man and woman in a canoe had capsized, were seen in distress, then went under the water. Neither of them resurfaced.
Austin-Travis County EMS said that rescue swimmers made their way to the overturned boat and searched the area, while a helicopter searched from overhead.
By about 8:30 p.m., the lack of daylight and severe weather prompted first responders to call off recovery efforts until the next morning.
Early Tuesday morning, Sheriff’s Office rescuers using a small Zodiac boat recovered the body of a woman victim, identified as Eva Cruz-Ramon, 54, of Austin.
Throughout that day the Sheriff deployed drones and searchers while the Texas Department of Public Safety assisted with helicopter searches. Efforts were suspended at dusk.
At daybreak Wednesday, the search resumed. At approximately 10:30 am, the body of the missing man was recovered. The Sheriff identified him as Rafael Luna of Vera Cruz, Mexico.
America Sanchez, the daughter of Eva Cruz, said on a GoFundMe page for funeral costs that her mother “has always been a honest, happy, energetic person with a lot of love for everyone, it is very sad that she had to go real soon but only God knows why.”
