Boy, 3, Drowns in Castaic Lake as Family Picnics on Beach

A 3-year-old Canoga Park boy drowned in Castaic Lake after wandering away from a family picnic, authorities said.

The drowning occurred Sunday afternoon at the northeast end of upper Castaic Lake after the boy’s family stopped their boat for a picnic on the beach, said Joe Walsh, supervisor of Los Angeles County lake lifeguards.

“They had gotten off the boat and were playing near the water,” Walsh said. “According to the father, the boy had just removed his life jacket a few minutes before he disappeared.”

Once the family became aware that the boy, identified as Devin Christopher Sorrels, was missing, a member of the group flagged down a lifeguard patrol boat. Lifeguards searched the water for 20 minutes before finding Devin’s body in 6 feet of water about 25 feet from the shore. Lifeguards performed CPR on the boy, but were unable to revive him, Walsh said.

The boy was transported by helicopter to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, where he was pronounced dead at 4:12 p.m., authorities said.

The accident occurred in an area of the lake where swimming is prohibited.

“It was hot, and the boy probably went into the water to try to cool off a bit,” Walsh said. “It’s tragic. Any time you lose a 3-year-old, it’s pretty hard to take.”