Marine Drowns In American River After Current Pulls Him Under

RANCHO CORDOVA (CBS13) - There was tragedy along the American River Saturday afternoon when four military buddies were hoping to cool off.

Three made it across the river but one didn't.

"I tried to swim and catch him and he went under," said Chris Crotte, the victim's friend.

Crotte did all he could to save his friend, Michael Berry.

"It was pretty dramatic," said one witness.

As hundreds of people were enjoying the afternoon sun along the American River near Hagan Park, four buddies decided to cool off and swim across.

"Three made it but one didn't," said Walt White, Sacramento Metro Fire.

Within minutes Berry began screaming for help.

"I heard him yell. I turned around and he was halfway across the river, but the current had him and it was taking him down," said Crotte. "He was trying to swim back."

As Crotte made a desperate swim for his buddy, Berry disappeared.

"I tried to run and dive but he kept going under, going under, and he just went under," said Crotte. "He was 15 minutes under and he came out blue."

Emergency crews searched from the air and the water.

After 15 minutes in the cold, swift American River, Berry was spotted.

"They found the body submerged," said the witness.

Crotte tells CBS13 Berry was a warrior.

He apparently fought as a U.S. Marine in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Berry survived those battles, but he left the American River Saturday afternoon on a gurney.

"The current underneath can be quite strong and quite cold; and it's something a lot of swimmers don't take into account," said White.