CLEARLAKE — A man who was pulled from the water on Oakmont Drive in the Clearlake Park area Sunday evening likely died from heart failure, according to preliminary results of an autopsy. Final cause in the death of Roger Alvin Machado, 73, is pending the results of a toxicology screening.
According to Lake County Sheriff Captain Jim Bauman, deputies were dispatched to a residence on Oakmont Drive around 7:40 p.m. Sunday. He said upon deputies” arrival, Lake County Fire Protection District and Clearlake Police were already on scene performing life saving protocols on Machado, who was unconscious.
Medical personnel continued life saving efforts while transporting Machado to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake. However, Bauman said despite having “very faint” signs of life upon arrival at the hospital, emergency room staff were unable to resuscitate the man and he was pronounced dead.
Bauman said Machado”s friend of 10 years, Joanne Simpson and her daughter Kathy Shrever told deputies that Machado and Shrever went down to the lake for a swim with Machado”s dog after having dinner. “Shrever said she watched Machado dive into the lake but he never surfaced,” Bauman said. “After several minutes, Shrever saw Machado”s water shoes surface and she began screaming for help. Several unidentified neighbors reportedly responded to the water and were eventually able to find Machado and pull him to shore.”
Bauman said that an autopsy performed Thursday morning at Jones and Lewis Mortuary in Lower Lake indicates that Machado did not actually drown but rather died of heart failure.
“On behalf of the Lake County Sheriff-Coroner”s Office, Sheriff Rodney Mitchell extends our sincere condolences to Mr. Machado”s loved ones and on behalf of first responders everywhere, he commends those citizens who acted swiftly and bravely in their attempts to save Mr. Machado”s life,” Bauman said.
