3 Tourists Drown After Trying to Save Woman in Whirlpool While Canyoneering in California

Gabrielle Rockson

26 August 2024 at 1:44 pm·2-min read

The victims have been identified as David Bell, Jeannine Skinner and Peter On

<p>David, Jeannine, Peter Celebration of Life and Friendship/Facebook</p> David Bell, Jeannine Skinner and Peter On — David, Jeannine, Peter Celebration of Life and Friendship/Facebook
David Bell, Jeannine Skinner and Peter On

Three tourists from Utah died when two tried to rescue the third from a whirlpool in California last week.

Fire officials found three deceased people near the hiking area Seven Teacups after they received a report just before 5:20 p.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 23 about a possible drowning, according to NBC affiliate KGET and KSEE/KGPE.

The trio had been sucked into a whirlpool while they were canyoneering with 13 others along the Kern River, NBC affiliate KSL reported.

The victims have been identified as David Bell, Jeannine Skinner and Peter On, per the reports.

The Tulare County Fire Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

<p>Getty</p> Kern River — Getty
Kern River

In a Facebook post on Aug. 24, Cyndi Bell Miller, identified by KGET as David's sister, wrote that the three were on their “very last” rappel when the tragic incident unfolded.

She went on to say that Skinner "rappelled into the pool of water and she got caught in a whirlpool."

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"Another man, Peter On, jumped in to save her and they were both caught in the whirlpool,” her post continued.

Miller added that Bell then jumped in to save them before all three drowned.

“They were able to get their bodies out in about seven minutes and they did CPR on them immediately and kept doing CPR for about 20 minutes but they were not able to revive any of them,” she wrote.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to support Bell’s family with unexpected expenses and funeral costs.

"The pain is indescribable as we face this [loss]," the organizer wrote.

More than $10,000 has been raised as of publication.

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