July 2, 2024 – Fresno County Sheriff’s Office officials report that at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, deputies assigned to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Dive Unit recovered the body of a young man from the bottom of the San Joaquin River in Firebaugh. His identity has not been confirmed, but he does match the description of person previously reported missing.
Around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, a report was made of a possible drowning occurring in the San Joaquin River, near 11th and Q Streets in the city of Firebaugh. Members of Firebaugh Police, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Madera County Sheriff’s Office , EMS and Cal Fire responded and began searching the San Joaquin River.
Information gathered at the scene revealed the person who vanished was a 15-year-old boy from San Jose who was in Firebaugh visiting family. He reportedly went to retrieve a ball that fell into the river. Once in the water, he never resurfaced. He did not know how to swim and was not wearing a life jacket.
First responders had suspended their search Sunday night due to darkness, then resumed again Monday morning.
This marks the eighth drowning of 2024. Three have occurred in the San Joaquin River, one in Shaver Lake, one in Millerton Lake, two in ponds and one in a canal.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages people to follow these safety measures in and around water.
1.) STAY OUT of the water if you do not know how to swim.
2.) Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. Make sure it is fully secured and fits the person properly.
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 to deep in a short distance.
Source & photos: Fresno County Sheriff's Office
