Daily Mail – Jeannine Skinner, 34, David Bell, 48, and Pete On, 48, drowned while canyoneering along the Seven Teacups trail in Tulare County – about 80 miles northeast of Bakersfield – on Friday afternoon.
The three friends and a group of others were nearing the end of their adventure when Jeannine decided to jump from the four foot drop into a ‘little pool.’
David and Pete then jumped in after her when they realized Jeannine failed to surface after getting trapped in the undercurrent.
They both broke free of the strong current before going back in to save Jeannine, but the three of them lost consciousness. Others attempted CPR on them for more than 20 minutes, but they didn’t survive.
David’s sisters, Summerisa Bell Stevens and Valecia Green said that the group ‘had a seamless day canyoneering together’ before the fatal incident.
‘The leader [of the group] had done this trip, I think she said 15 times, so it was just the very last four foot drop into a pool, a little pool,’ Valecia told KSL-TV.
Steven added that from the top of Seven Teacups nobody would’ve been able to notice if something was off in the water.
‘There was a circular current that they think was caused by either a large log or a rock that was pushed into that area,’ she added.
‘Pete immediately jumped into the water to help Jeannine. At one point he got out and he was able to get away from the current and extended his hand and she couldn’t reach it so he went back in to try to get her.’
In the midst of the frightening whirlpool, their brother was also able to break free but after he saw Pete unconscious he went right back in to help.
‘These are three amazing, amazing individuals that will be very missed by family, friends and the community at large,’ Valecia said.
Friends and family of the trio have shown an outpouring of grief and support in a Facebook group called ‘David, Jeannine, Pete Celebration of Life and Friendship.’
