Jomarie Calasanz, a 26-year-old woman from La Puente, California, has been found dead nearly two months after being swept away by a fast-moving river in Sequoia National Park while trying to rescue her sister.
Officials with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Calasanz’s body was recovered from the river on July 24 by their Swiftwater Dive Rescue Team, working in coordination with the National Park Service. She was officially identified on July 28 by the county coroner.
Calasanz had gone missing on May 25, after jumping into the water in an attempt to save her sister from being carried away by the deceptively calm but swift and frigid current.
“What was supposed to be a fun, bonding moment very quickly turned into a traumatic event,” a GoFundMe page created by loved ones explained. “Jomarie, being a swimmer, didn’t hesitate to jump in after Joanne, her older sister, when she started to struggle. While the river eventually let go of Joanne, Jomarie was carried into the rapids and never resurfaced.”
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Park Superintendent Clay Jordan thanked rescue teams for their persistent efforts. “I hope this brings some level of closure to the family,” he said in a statement.
Officials also reminded the public of the ongoing dangers posed by rivers in national parks, even later in the season when water levels appear lower. “Please stay away from swift water, wear life jackets, and keep children close along riverbanks,” the sheriff’s office urged.
Calasanz was a 2020 graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in political science. Her university described her as “bright, compassionate, and driven,” according to KTTV.
She is remembered by family and friends as courageous, selfless, and full of love—a young woman who gave her life trying to protect someone she loved.
