LOCAL

Man swept away by floodwaters was bathing in Shoal Creek, police say

Katie Hall
khall@statesman.com
Austin police and fire crews on May 8 recover the body of a man from Lady Bird Lake during heavy rains that hit central Texas. The man was identified as Craig L. Mayes, 58. [JAMES GREGG/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

A man who was bathing in Shoal Creek in downtown Austin last week and died after floodwaters swept him away has been identified as Craig L. Mayes, 58, Austin police said.

Mayes, who police say was homeless, was in the creek May 8 near Ninth Street, about a block east of North Lamar Boulevard, when the water began to rise. A friend of his was with him and told him to get out, but the water was rushing too fast and he was swept away, police said.

First responders got the call at 12:51 p.m.

A rescue helicopter later spotted Mayes' body in Lady Bird Lake, where Austin-Travis County EMS medics pronounced him dead at the scene that same day.