Two Drownings Mark Start of Texas Beach Season

A 49-year-old man from Oregon drowned on Saturday afternoon in a no-swimming zone near Seawall Boulevard and 39th Street in Galveston, Texas, marking the first beachfront drowning of the year on the island. Lifeguards responded quickly, but the man was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Authorities highlighted the increased danger of swimming near jetties and under yellow flag conditions, which signal moderate surf and currents. Beach officials urged visitors to swim only in designated areas and to heed all posted warnings. In a separate incident on the same weekend, a 34-year-old man drowned at Lake Conroe after his anchored boat drifted away. Both incidents emphasize the importance of caution and awareness when swimming in natural waters across Texas.