Man Drowns in Kings River
September 23, 2025 – Fresno County Sheriff's Office officials report that at around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 20th, a group of friends were swimming in the Kings River just south of the Pine Flat bridge when they noticed one of the men was missing. They began to walk the riverbank looking for him. They encountered some fishermen who noticed something floating downstream. It turned out to be the missing man, who had been gone for about 30 minutes before being found.
Deputies and Cal Fire firefighters removed him from the river and declared him deceased.
The name of the victim is not available for release at this time.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to follow these safety tips:
1) Always 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 fatigue 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. When the temperature of the water remains cold, it can cause hypothermia to set in rather quickly. Recognize that 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 & photo: Fresno County Sheriff's Office