A 21-year-old UC Merced student drowned in Lake Natoma just after 1 p.m. Saturday.

Tu Nghiem, 21, of Sacramento was swimming with a relative between Nimbus Flat and the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, said Sgt. Eric Dales of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. They were not wearing life jackets and were not strong swimmers, Dales said.

Lifeguards saw them struggling in the water and jumped in to rescue the men. They managed to save one man, but Nghiem had already gone under the water when they returned for him, Dales said.

The Drowning Accident Rescue Team was called, but Nghiem’s body was recovered before it could begin a search.

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