BROTHERS drown in North Canadian River

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Two teen-age brothers drowned in the North Canadian River on Tuesday afternoon after one went in to try to save the other. <br><br>The boys were swimming in the river in northeast

Wednesday, July 25th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Two teen-age brothers drowned in the North Canadian River on Tuesday afternoon after one went in to try to save the other.

The boys were swimming in the river in northeast Oklahoma City while their parents watched from a bank, said Oklahoma City Fire Maj. Brian Stanaland. When 15-year-old Justin Smith started having trouble, 17-year-old Curtis Smith went after him.

Curtis Smith surfaced briefly, then never reappeared, Stanaland said.

An Oklahoma City dive team recovered the bodies of the brothers about 4 p.m.

Stanaland said the part of the river where the Oklahoma City teens were swimming was at least 50 feet wide and 12 feet deep.

He said people should not swim in the river and should stick to designated swimming areas.

In southern Oklahoma, officials presumed a 21-year-old man drowned in the Catfish Bay area of Lake Texoma Tuesday evening.

The man, whose identity was not released, was swimming at the boat ramp about 50 or 60 feet from shore, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.

A witness saw the man go under water several times and fail to resurface.

Four boats were dispatched, but divers' efforts were unsuccessful because of brush and debris underwater, the patrol said.

Officials said they will resume looking for the man Wednesday morning.