The body of a La Puente woman who went missing in the Kaweah River in Sequoia National Park was found on July 24, officials said.
Jomarie Calasanz, 26, was swept into the river while visiting the park with friends and family on May 25, according to the National Park Service.
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While swimming, Calasanz’s older sister began to get swept away, according to a GoFundMe organized by the family. Calasanz, a swimmer, jumped in to save her sister, and both were caught in the rapids, the post said. Her sister escaped the current, but Calasanz did not resurface.
“In her last moments she was a hero, we will honor her life by remembering her as such,” the family’s message read.
A search was launched but scaled back on June 5 due to unsafe river conditions and rugged terrain. Throughout July, crews used drones, dive and swiftwater rescue teams, ground searches and K9 units to continue looking for her.
Lower water levels on July 24 allowed teams to safely recover Calasanz’s body less than a mile from where she was last seen.
The National Park Service and Tulare County Sheriff’s Office expressed condolences to her family and urged visitors to stay away from swift water, even later in the season when flows are lower.
