San Joaquin River Leaves One Person Dead, One Hospitalized
June 24, 2024 – Fresno County Sheriff's Office officials report that at around 3:50 p.m. Sunday, visitors at Skaggs Bridge Park in Kerman called 911 to report a possible drowning. Deputies and EMS immediately responded. Upon arrival, they found one man on the shore in need of medical attention. He was rushed to the hospital and is in critical condition. The investigation shows a man who was in the river noticed another man in trouble and took it upon himself to rescue him and bring him ashore. The two did not know each other. Medics evaluated the Good Samaritan, who was determined to be ok.
While on scene, first responders got word that another man was possibly missing in the river. Earlier, he was swimming with the man who was eventually transported to the hospital. Deputies confirmed a man was in fact missing and members of our Dive Unit were called out to conduct a search. Around 7:00 p.m., divers found the man at the bottom of the river who was deceased.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to be safe in and around pools and all natural waterways. Take these simple measures.
1.) Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. Make sure it is secured and fits the person properly.
2.) Stay out of the water if you are not an experienced swimmer.
3.) Parents should watch their children at all times.
4.) Do not mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol causes swimmers to become fatigued faster than normal and can create dangerous situations.
5.) Understand that when it’s hot outside you will get tired faster than usual.
6.) Respect the water. The temperature of the water remains cold and the current is often stronger than it appears. There can be debris in the water, which is difficult to see and may cause hazardous situations for swimmers.
7.) Be careful of the mud on the bottom of lakes and rivers, it’s easy to sink in some spots and get your feet stuck. Also, use your feet to feel for drop off spots. River and lake bottoms can dramatically change from shallow into deep in a short distance.
Source & photo: Fresno County Sheriff's Office
