Man Playing With Daughter in Anaheim Pool Drowns

A 28-year-old man who was playing in a pool with his daughter even though he could not swim drowned Wednesday, despite three boys’ efforts to save him.

Witnesses said Arturo Flores, who had been in the shallow end of the pool with his 4-year-old girl, had lifted her out of the pool and then somehow slipped under water into the deep end.

He was there for about five minutes before the boys, who also were in the apartment pool, realized something was wrong.

“At first we thought he was faking,” said Alfonso Pauda, 13. “I dove down a couple of times and touched him. He rolled over and his eyes were closed and I could tell he wasn’t fooling around.”

Alfonso and two 9-year-old friends dove to the bottom of the eight-foot pool, grabbed Flores’ arms and pulled him to the surface. Maria Flores, who had run from their apartment when she heard their daughter screaming, began to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Arcie Cedero, the manager of the apartment building, translated CPR directions from the 911 operator to Maria Flores and a relative, using a portable telephone.

When paramedics arrived, they continued attempts to revive Flores with CPR and electrical shocks to his heart.

Flores was taken to Anaheim Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:37 p.m., about 45 minutes after the incident.

“Mr. Flores doesn’t swim and it only takes sucking in several inches of water in your system to drown,” said Capt. Wayne Chamberlain of the Anaheim Fire Department. “It’s amazing, but it happens.”

Flores, who sold clothes at a local swap meet, moved his family to the apartment complex in the 1100 block of North Acacia Street about four months ago.

Cedero said Flores “was always very friendly. He was a good man.”