A Woman Nearly Drowns In Kings River – Beachgoers, Reedley Police Officers Save Her

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – On Monday, July 16t, the Reedley Police Department got a 911 call of a possible drowning on the Kings River.

Upon arrival, officers found that a 61 year-old woman had been pulled from the river in the area of Reedley Beach and was not breathing.

Officers began CPR until she had started breathing on her own.

As EMS arrived, she regained consciousness and spoke briefly with the officers before being transported to Adventist Health Hospital in Reedley.

Witnesses told police the woman went into the river after seeing what she thought was a child struggling to stay above the water, but she did not know how to swim.

Police say beach goers were able to pull her and a young man, out of the water.

Due to the quick response from bystanders at the Beach, and the 911 call, the woman was saved from the drowning incident.

None of the bystanders in the area knew how to perform CPR.

The Reedley Police department commends Police Officers Walker and Ybarra for their quick actions and CPR application that save the woman’s life.

Both officers were able to speak to the woman after she was transported to Adventist Hospital.

Reedley Police say: “It is imperative to be cautious when going into the Kings River, where the water can be extremely cold, with fast moving currents. If you see someone in distress, and don’t know how to swim, call for help from bystanders who can swim, and immediately call 911. Learning CPR and basic first aid can save a life!”
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern: