An Oakland teenager drowned Saturday at East Park Reservoir in northwestern Colusa County.

Joey Saephan, 18, was attempting to swim from shore to a buoy about 80 feet away when he got into distress and slipped beneath the surface of the water, according to Colusa County sheriff's officials.

Lt. Shane Maxey said Saephan was swimming with his 7-year-old brother when Saephan suddenly called out in distress.

"He said, 'I'm drowning. I'm drowning,'" said Maxey, citing witnesses.

Maxey said the 7-year-old was able to swim safely back to shore but then turned to see that his brother was nowhere in sight.

An emergency call was placed at 12:20 p.m. and rescue personnel arrived to look for the young man.

Maxey, who called the incident a tragedy, said the team located Saephan's body about 50 feet from shore around 5 p.m.

Saephan had been camping with his family in the Rock Ridge area of East Park Reservoir when the drowning occurred.

Maxey said he was unaware if the teen had any complaints of illness or pain prior to the incident, but that an autopsy is being conducted today.