After three people drowned in a California river this year, authorities revealed the terrifying danger of its deceptively strong currents.

On the afternoon of September 20, 21-year-old Azeal Castro Colato was swimming in the Kings River got separated from his friends, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

The group then walked along the riverbank to search for him, only to notice some fishermen looking at something floating downstream. It turned out to be the Colato, who had been gone for about 30 minutes, the sheriff said.

Officers and firefighters got him out of the river and he was declared dead at the scene.

The Kings River is a 132-mile river east of Fresno that cuts through the Sierra Nevada mountains.

The sheriff’s office implored people to ‘respect the water’ because ‘the current is often stronger than it appears’.

‘When the temperature of the water remains cold, it can cause hypothermia to set in rather quickly,’ said the sheriff’s office. ‘There can be debris in the water, which is difficult to see and may cause hazardous situations for swimmers.’

Safety precautions that can be taken include not swimming while under the influence of alcohol, wearing a Coast Guard-approved life vest and keeping an eye on children at all times.

Three people have drowned this year in the Kings River, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office

The most recent victim was 21-year-old Azeal Castro Colato, who was swept away in the current and found dead 30 minutes later by authorities

‘Be careful of the mud on the bottom of lakes and rivers, it’s easy to sink in some spots and get your feet stuck. Also, use your feet to feel for drop off spots. River and lake bottoms can dramatically change from shallow to deep in a short distance,’ the sheriff’s office added.

In August, a 37-year-old man drowned in the Kings River, making him the fifth person to drown in a Fresno County waterway, SFGate reported.

In July, a 35-year-old Matthias Aguilar died while kayaking in the Courtright Reservoir, which is near the river.

‘He attempted to swim to shore, then went underwater. It took him about two minutes to resurface,’ the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement at the time. 

‘Friends swam out to him and were able to take him to the shore. They attempted CPR efforts while deputies and medics responded. By the time deputies and a SkyLife helicopter arrived, Aguilar had passed away,’ the announcement continued.

Further north, a man was found in July 140 feet deep in Donner Lake near Truckee, a small California town near the Nevada border. He was not wearing a life jacket.

The same month, three bodies were taken out of the water where the San Joaquin and American rivers meet, according to authorities.