South Lake Tahoe paddle boarders honor Deputy Francies

"Although he was off duty, Deputy Carlos Francies died doing what he was sworn to do: putting himself in harm's way to protect the life of another." Those were the words of Robin Bender as she spoke to the crowd gathered at El Dorado Beach and Lakeview Commons to remember Francies who drowned in Lake Tahoe on August 13.

Bender, the CFO of South Tahoe Stand Up Paddle, along with owner Chris Brackett, spoke, and Sammantha Bender sang as people with their paddle boards headed off shore to have a paddle-out, the surfing tradition that honors the life of a fallen comrade.

Wednesday nights are normally the time for a weekly race series, but Brackett chose to cancel that tonight. He said he struggled with holding something fun when the community was dealing with something so tragic. They chose to have the paddle-out instead.

Dozens were on their paddle boards, on board an outrigger or standing in the knee deep water alongside the others. Flower petals were tossed into the center of their formed circle and water was splashed. As prayers were said the ceremony was watched by another crowd on shore.

In that crowd were members from the South Lake Tahoe Fire and Police Departments. Three of the firemen there were among those that tried to save Francies' life after he was brought on shore.

30-year-old Deputy Francies was in the water with his sister, girlfriend and a family friend when he responded immediately in an effort to help the friend he believed may be close to drowning. Francies jumped into the water and began swimming the distance toward his friend. Almost immediately however, only about 20 feet or so from his paddle board, Deputy Francies began to falter and fall into distress himself. His girlfriend, a nurse, administered CPR while he was being brought in on a paddle board. The firemen took over as soon as they arrived.

"It's so tragic, how does this happen?" asked Brackett.

On a paddle board sitting on the beach were a photo of Francies along with "The Most Awesome" trophy, an award handed out during the Wednesday SUP series. Brackett will send this, along with a large card that was being signed on shore, as well as monetary donations, to the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department for the family.