An Amazon software engineer from Texas who drowned in Lake Tahoe had traveled to Nevada to see friends and take part in a religious conference before the fatal accident, according to those close to him.
Yadessa Emiru Aga, 32, of Austin, died Monday evening after he was pulled unresponsive from Lake Tahoe, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said. Aga worked in Austin as a software engineer for Amazon, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“While returning from a church conference and spending time with close friends in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Yadessa went home to be with his Lord and Savior following a tragic accident,” family and friends wrote in a GoFundMe created after his death.
The fundraiser, organized by Aga’s close friends, family and church community, remembered him for his “humble spirit, contagious smile, and generous heart,” saying he had a gift for making others feel loved, included and welcome.
“He was deeply cherished by his family, friends, church, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
The tribute also said Yadessa enjoyed “exploring God’s creation,” traveling and sharing meaningful experiences with the people around him, while emphasizing that his faith remained at the center of his life.
“His faith shaped the way he lived, loved, and served others.”
According to the GoFundMe message, loved ones are working with “Yadessa’s employer to help cover a portion of the costs of bringing him home and making funeral arrangements in both the United States and Ethiopia.”
Friends said the funds raised will help cover the remaining expenses and give Aga a dignified final resting place.
Deputies with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the North Sand Harbor boat ramp at around 8 p.m. Monday following reports of a possible water rescue at the popular Nevada state park on Lake Tahoe’s eastern shoreline.
Investigators said Aga had swum toward a group of offshore granite boulders around dusk before disappearing beneath the surface and becoming unresponsive.
Before deputies arrived, bystanders entered the rescue effort and brought Aga back to shore, where sheriff’s deputies immediately began CPR. Emergency medical personnel continued resuscitation attempts after reaching the scene.
“Despite those efforts, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Authorities are treating the incident as an apparent accidental drowning.
Justin Norton, operations manager for the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, told SFGATE that the investigation is still active.
“The case is pending further investigation, so I have no records or cause of death to release at this time,” Norton said in an email.
Officials said the investigation remains ongoing, and his official cause of death has not yet been determined.
The fatal incident comes just weeks after another person died near Sand Harbor in June after reportedly experiencing distress in the water.
The medical examiner’s office said completed examination reports typically take between 10 and 12 weeks.
