Man drowns while swimming at Banana Bend in east Harris County

HARRIS COUNTY (KTRK) -- The holiday weekend turned tragic after a man drowned while swimming at Banana Bend in east Harris County.

Salvador Bueno, 52, was with family and friends when he went under the water and never came up. Deputies say they were called to the scene around 1pm. A Marine Unit found his body not long after.

Dalgis Cruz says Bueno knew how to swim. Sheriff's deputies say Bueno was wading in chest deep water when a friend returned to shore with a 4-year-old child, she turned around and he had gone under.

Authorities do not believe alcohol was involved. Banana Bend is a "swim at your own risk" beach and the captain of the Marine Unit warns the San Jacinto River is always unpredictable but even more now after spring floods.

"Anywhere along the river has changed, what used to be knee-deep might be over your head now, 15-foot-deep. What used to be 15-foot might be knee-deep," Captain Don Stanton said. "The whole river has changed, just use caution."