San Joaquin River Drowning Victim Identified
July 24, 2025 – Fresno County Sheriff's Office officials report that the man who drowned in the San Joaquin River last weekend has been identified as 47-year-old Eric Torres of Fresno.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, Fresno County Sheriff’s dispatchers received a report for the need of a water rescue in the San Joaquin River. Deputies, EMS and firefighters responded to the area of the river along Highway 99, between Avenue 7 and Herndon Ave. Friends of Eric Torres reported he had gone swimming and disappeared in the water. The Sheriff’s helicopter, EAGLE One, assisted with the search. Just after 6:00 p.m., deputies in the helicopter directed dive team members with the Fresno Fire Department to where Torres was in the river. Fresno Fire Department Firefighters swam out to the location, removed Torres from the water and administered medical aid. EMS personnel then transported him to the hospital where he later died. Torres did not know how to swim and was not wearing a life jacket.
The Sheriff’s Office offers the following safety tips:
1) Stay out of the water if you do not know how to swim.
2) If you are going to get into the water, always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.
3) Make sure the jacket fits you properly and it is fully fastened with the zipper and/or buckles.
4) Wear appropriate swim attire.
5) Parents should watch their children at all times.
6) Understand that when it’s hot outside you will get tired faster than usual.
7) 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.
Be careful of mud and plants on the bottom of lakes and rivers, it’s easy to sink in some spots and get your feet stuck or tangled. 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
