A 24-year-old man drowned in the Merced River near Hatfield Park, Merced County, after struggling in the water without a life jacket. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old Detroit man drowned while swimming in Kensington Lake, Oakland County, marking the tenth drowning in the county this year. The victim's friend, who struggled to communicate with first responders due to a language barrier, could not alert others in time. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard emphasized the importance of emergency preparedness and the use of flotation devices to prevent such tragedies. Other recent drownings in the area include incidents in White Lake, Townsend Lake, and Taylor Lake.