Oakland man who drowned in Russian River identified

An Oakland man who drowned at Steelhead Beach on the Russian River Sunday has been identified as 21-year-old Carmelino Domingo-Garcia, according to the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office.

Domingo-Garcia was on a sandbar with friends and family for a day on the river 300 yards upstream from Steelhead Beach just before 4:30 p.m., when he swam to the opposite shore, said Misti Harris, community engagement liaison with the Sheriff’s Office.

Domingo-Garcia began swimming back to the sandbar but went underwater and did not resurface, Harris said. Emergency responders from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Sonoma County Regional Parks, Forestville Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Office responded to the call.

Just after 5 p.m. he was found in 5 feet of water not far from where he was last seen, said Eric Gromala, an engineer with the Forestville Fire.

Domingo-Garcia was able to swim and alcohol is not considered a factor in the drowning, Harris said.

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nrahaim.