Schertz teen dies after drowning in Canyon Lake

CANYON LAKE, Texas — A Schertz teenager died at a Comal County hospital after drowning in the waters of Canyon Lake Monday on Memorial Day.

According to a release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 18-year-old Alek Johnson was reportedly underwater for 20 minutes when he was recovered by the Canyon Lake Fire & EMS dive team from under eight feet of water.

Crews performed CPR and Johnson was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died. This is the second drowning death in Canyon Lake this year.

Also over Memorial Day weekend, a 20-year-old Galveston woman drowned while at the beach with her family. A new study from the CDC found that drowning deaths are increasing in the United States, and as summer approaches, safety concerns are increasing.

Texas Parks and Wildlife said Memorial Day is the first of three “major boating holidays,” with July 4 and Labor Day being the other two.

Texas game wardens have reportedly increased their boat patrols on various bodies of water across the state in preparation for the holiday weekend.

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