Travis County investigating swimmer’s death

By: News 8 Austin Staff

Photo by Robert Weiss

Travis County authorities are investigating a death at Lake Travis.

Sheriff's deputies say 32-year-old Paul Mathis was on a party barge off Starnes Island near Emerald Point when he went missing Sunday afternoon.

He jumped from the barge with a flotation device around his waist. Authorities were called when he did not come back up. A witness said he didn't know how to swim.

Multiple rescue crews, including STAR Flight, responded to the scene. Robert Weiss submitted photos of the search and rescue operation (see below).

Emergency personnel found him after 50 minutes. Paramedics tried to revive him, but it was too late. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies say reports of drownings have been low over the past few years, but with the lakes filling up, they remind people to enjoy them with caution.

"The lake is full, and that means that more people are going to come out,” Capt. Art Cardenas with the Travis County Sheriff's Office said. “Please be very cognizant of the dangers of the water."

Authorities will not release the results of Mathis' autopsy pending the results of a toxicology report.