August 20, 2024 4:10 a.m.

Search efforts continued Monday for a man presumed to have drowned at Diamond Lake on Saturday.

A Douglas County Sheriff’s Office report said deputies have been searching for signs of the victim, 37-year-old Chimanbai Patel of Bend, without success.

Saturday at approximately 5:40 p.m. 911 dispatchers received a report that Patel had been on a pontoon boat with friends at Diamond Lake when he jumped into the water to swim. Shortly after entering the water, Patel went under and never resurfaced.

Deputies have enlisted the assistance of the DCSO Dive Team, DCSO Search and Rescue, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and Oregon State Police. Monday, a dog trained in water recovery was deployed on the lake with searchers. At this time, Patel remains missing.

Lieutenant Brad O’Dell said, “This is a tragedy for his friends and family”. O’Dell said, “We have been in communication with his family and will continue efforts to locate him so he can be returned to his loved ones. We are very grateful to our partner agencies who have been assisting us in our search”.