UPDATE: BODY FOUND, 2:45 p.m.Divers have recovered the body of 21-year-old Phillip Stevenson, who drowned in Lake Berryessa Sunday during a fishing trip with friends.

Stevenson, 21, of Oakland, was swimming Sunday in an area of the lake known as Party Point, east of Markley Cove, when witnesses saw him floundering in the water at about 4:25 p.m., Napa County Sheriffs Lt. Tracey Stuart said. Friends reportedly swam out to Stevenson, but were unable to reach him before he went under.

Stevenson’s body was recovered by a team of divers from the sheriffs department at 11:10 a.m. today near Party Point where he was last seen. Divers had searched all morning, but Stuart said the 4:25 p.m. call came in too late to respond on Sunday.

Investigators will conduct an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. Stuart said alcohol is not believed to be involved.

11:15 a.m. update — Divers are scouring Lake Berryessa this morning for a missing Oakland man who is believed to have drowned during a fishing trip Sunday afternoon.

Phillip Stevenson, 21, was last seen at 4:25 p.m. Sunday swimming in an area of the lake known as Party Point, east of Markley Cove in Berryessa.

Witnesses report seeing Stevenson floundering in the water, Napa County Sheriffs Lt. Tracey Stuart said. Stevenson’s friends reportedly tried to rescue him from drowning, but Stevenson went under before they could reach him, Stuart said.

A dive team made up of sheriffs deputies is at Lake Berryessa now searching for Stevenson. The divers were dispatched Monday at 8 a.m. Stuart said it was too late to begin the search Sunday afternoon.



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The area of Lake Berryessa where Stevenson was last seen is particularly tenuous, with a shore that suddenly drops off 30-40 feet. Stuart said alcohol is not believed to be involved.