A fair-weather Saturday at Lake Pueblo State Park quickly turned tragic after a swimmer went missing in the water and was found dead several hours later. With relatively calm waters, 40-year-old Juan Jimenez had been looking forward to enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.

Coming to Colorado Springs only three months ago, Jimenez’s trip out to Lake Pueblo State Park on Saturday was one of his first recreational adventures since moving. He took the trip with his brother-in-law, a few close friends, his wife and kids.

Jimenez’s older sister Maria Jimenez told The Gazette that the waters were not chaotic or dangerous when the group went out to swim that evening. According to her, Jimenez, along with his brother-in-law, had climbed a tree that was half in the water and half dry. At some point, Jimenez fell, landing on his stomach in the water. His family believes the wind was knocked out of Jimenez, making it easier for him to drift farther from shore.

“He was a good swimmer,” Jimenez’s niece Erika Jimenez said. “We’re not sure if something else might have gone on in the tree before he fell, or if he might have gotten stuck or anything else that happened when he hit the water.”

As soon as someone noticed Jimenez was not in sight, the group began looking for him. Nearby pedestrians jumped in on the search while someone called for emergency services.

Jimenez disappeared about 8 p.m. After three hours of searching, his body was recovered by volunteer divers from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office about 11 p.m. He was about 75 feet from the shore in water that was about 6 inches deep.

According the Pueblo County coroner, his death was ruled as a swimming accident. Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s unofficial numbers show that this was the 19th water-related death in Colorado this year.

Jimenez only came to the United States three months ago in search of a better life for his children. He and his family were seeking asylum from Mexico and moved to Colorado Springs to start that new life. Jimenez’s family says he was seeking a better education for his three children, ages 12, 9 and 6. He wanted his kids to learn another language and have access to additional future opportunities

Back in Mexico, Jimenez’s love for the outdoors and nature was apparent. His siblings said he was always a great swimmer and he frequently taught others how to swim.

Jimenez was the youngest child in his family with four older siblings. According to his sister Maria, all of the older siblings essentially raised Jimenez, who described him as an “ideal brother.”

“My grandmother (Jimenez’s mother) was the single mother for all five of them and they (siblings) raised him basically, so it was almost like losing a child of their own,” Erika said.

Jimenez’s family members say they remember him by his deep love for his family along with his friendly and helpful nature. While waiting to be granted asylum, Jimenez found work through helping out his friends with their businesses when he could.

With Jimenez and his family seeking asylum, a court date is set for next month, and the family is unsure of what the future holds.

Jimenez’s family is arranging to bring his body back to Mexico for the funeral. To aid in those costs, the family has set up a GoFundMe. Less than a week after Jimenez’s death, the page has raised more than $2,000 for the family.

“He was a family man that left behind his wife and three young children after moving to Colorado just three months ago in search of a better academic future for his kids,” Maria wrote on the page. “Please help us with whatever you can, anything helps in these tough times.”