[view:node_ad=5]Saturday afternoon, a 9 year-old girl drowned in Lake Piru, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s officials.

The young girl, who lived in the Piru area, was reportedly wading in water about 50 yards off shore in the Lake’s day use area. She was being supervised by adult family members.

Suddenly, she slipped underwater and her family immediately ran through the water to the area she had been playing. They searched for her and Lake Rangers were contacted by her father. She was not wearing a flotation device.

Rangers responded in a rescue boat and started searching underwater. They were assisted by an off-duty Sheriff’s Helicopter Paramedic. Soon after, a Sheriff’s rescue helicopter arrived and deployed a rescue diver.

Senior Deputy Shane Matthews conducted a diving search for the missing girl in about 8 feet of water. The visibility was less than 3 inches due to the high winds on the lake.

Shortly thereafter, Sr. Deputy Matthews found her submerged. He brought her to the surface and began resuscitation efforts with the assistance of rangers and other emergency personnel, however she succumbed and was pronounced deceased at the scene.