39 Year-old Man Seeking Relief From Heat Drowns In Selma Canal

[Photo; FCSO]

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A Valley man looking for relief from the heat drowns in a Selma canal.

The victim has been identified by the Fresno County Coroner’s Office as 39 year-old Jimmy Renteria.

At 8:00 pm on Thursday, dispatchers at the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office received a call stating a man had vanished while swimming in a canal on S. Fowler Ave., just north of E. Rose Ave.

Tony Botti, Spokesperson from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, says Renteria had been swimming with friends, grabbed hold of some bars under the bridge and then let go.

Fresno County Sheriff’s Sergeant Brad Gattie says deputies arrived and began their search, “We requested our dive unit to come out and assess, once they did, by that time the subject floated up to the top and now this became a recovery.”

Sheriff’s deputies say its a warning of the dangers of swimming in valley canals as a way to cool off from the summer heat.The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public to never swim in canals. They contain debris, hazardous objects underwater and weirs (small dams).

Exposure to these conditions can lead to serious injury or death.

The Sheriff’s Office also encourages everyone to be safe in and around pools and all natural waterways.

  1. Take these simple measures.
    1) Wear a life jacket. Make sure children have one that fits them properly.
    2) Stay close to shore 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 extremely 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. 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.