The Record
STOCKTON, Calif. — The Stockton Fire Department water rescue team pulled a man from the Stockton Deep Water Channel at Weber Point on Friday afternoon and was able to revive him after he had been submerged for at least 10 minutes.
Company 2 Battalion Chief Rick Substad said firefighters were dispatched at 1:24 p.m. to Weber Point, where witnesses said the man and a friend decided to take a swim. “His friend was adamant that they were swimming. He said he looked back and saw his friend was sinking,” Substad said.
Paramedics administered CPR, and the man was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital. Substad said he had a pulse and was breathing at the hospital just before 3 p.m.
Substad called the incident a cold-water drowning, which can occur any time a person is submerged in water colder than 70 degrees. There have been cases where people have been revived up to an hour and a half after a cold-water drowning, he said.
Police were investigating the scene after firefighters had left. A pile of dry clothes were on the sidewalk near the guardrail to the water. “No swimming” signs were visible on the guardrail.
Police Lt. Tina Zachary said investigators will work to determine if the man jumped into the water or was pushed. Several witnesses said the man could have been pushed and that his friend might have jumped after him, Zachary said.
Police did not immediately release the man’s name or age. Two men who appeared to be his acquaintances were taken in for questioning.
Police may have more than witnesses. A light pole near where the pile of clothes sat on the sidewalk also has a mounted surveillance camera that could provide more evidence.
Police spokesman Officer Joe Silva said investigators will be checking to see if the camera was facing the right direction and if it was recording at the time.
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