An 18-year-old man from Vallejo drowned yesterday in the waters of Lake Berryessa, making this the third drowning in two weeks.
A Facebook post from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office identified the young man as Zaire Watu Fairley who was at the lake with three of his friends. He was reportedly standing on a log when he slipped and fell into the water. An off-duty police officer jumped from his boat, located Fairley underwater, and swam the young man to shore. Multiple off-duty nurses began to administer CPR before a California Highway Patrol helicopter airlifted the patient to a nearby hospital where he would die.
The first drowning in the last two weeks occurred on June 27, 2022, when a 16-year-old drowned after falling from a raft.
The second drowning occurred on July 3, 2022 after 35-year-old San Pablo man Marciallo Perez entered the water to save his son from drowning. Tragically, the father would drown while his young son would survive. Authorities recovered his body hours later.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office published information about drownings in Lake Berryessa after the father drowned attempting to save his son:
Dating back to 2020, there have been 10 drownings at Lake Berryessa. Seven of the 10 drownings occurred at Oak Shores Day Use Area, where everyone is allowed to rent life jackets for FREE. If you are getting in or near the water, please wear a life jacket. Life jackets save lives.
Appreciation to Corey Edwards and his Facebook page Napa Valley, CA – Fire & Police Emergency Info for documentation of the unfortunate event.
Previous Drownings
