Pair believed to have drowned in wash

Two men were presumed drowned on Sunday after they were swept away by fast-moving water at the Las Vegas Wash near Lake Las Vegas, authorities said.

A four-hour search for the men included at least two rescue attempts, said Roxanne Dey, spokeswoman for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

One of the men was fishing at the wash under the bridge downstream from Lake Las Vegas about 4:30 p.m. when he called to another man on the opposite side of the wash to join him, she said.

The man waded into the water and became distressed, possibly from a medical condition, Dey said. The other man went to try to help but both men were swept away.

Park rangers were alerted and went downstream to look for the men. Rangers spotted one of the men in the water and tried to pull him out but couldn't, Dey said. A rescue helicopter team also tried to save one of the men but failed, she said.

Authorities called off the search at about 8:30 p.m. when it became too dark, she said. The search was to resume this morning, Dey said.