Friends film teen struggle in river before disappearance

A US man unwittingly recorded the last time his friend was seen alive, desperately swimming against a strong current before vanishing without a trace.

Raymond Cabalfin Jr and his friends joked and laughed as he leaped into the American River last Thursday to cool off during a hike along Lake Clementine Trail.

His friend had no idea the video, which was released by his sister, would be the last image taken of the 19-year-old alive.

The group laughed as Mr Cabalfin was swept away but started to realise he was in distress when he started splashing and yelled for help.

Park rangers and rescue divers scoured the river and surrounding areas for several hours but have been unable to find Mr Cabalfin and fear he is dead.

"We had enough … people search the area, and if he was alive, we would have found him," superintendent of the Auburn State Recreation Area Mike Howard said.

He said swimmers can find themselves in danger within a matter of seconds in the river, which currently has "more than double its historical flow".

The boyfriend of Mr Cabalfin's sister said his parents were not notified of his disappearance and have demanded search efforts continue.

"We feel that not enough has been done," he told the Sacramento Bee.

They have started raising money online to help fund their own search efforts but park rangers have warned them to stay out of the water.

Another seven-hour search was completed yesterday.

"The river was clearer than before, but unfortunately they did not find anything," his sister wrote on GoFundMe.