Oxnard Man Drowns in Ventura River

An Oxnard man drowned in a fishing hole in the Ventura River on Thursday evening after his friends were unable to reach the non-swimmer who slipped and fell into the water, authorities said.

The man was pronounced dead at 7:15 p.m. at the Ventura County Medical Center. Authorities did not immediately release his name, pending the notification of his relatives.

The drowning occurred as four men were fishing in the riverbed near Ojai Rubbish Service Inc. off Crooked Palm Road just north of Ventura city limits, authorities said.

“One of them fell in, and he was a non-swimmer,” Sheriff’s Lt. Gary Cook said. “The others tried to get him and couldn’t get to him.” Cook said the victim’s friends had been drinking.

At 6:15, authorities received a call for help, relayed by a worker at Ojai Rubbish. “They contacted someone at Ojai Rubbish and there was a language problem and they called us,” Cook said.

By the time firefighters arrived, the man had been pulled from the river and up a path, said Ventura City Fire Capt. Mike Vaughan.

“When we got there, he was unconscious with no pulse and no respiration,” Vaughan said of the man whom he believed to be middle-aged. “He had lots of water in his lungs.”

Despite efforts to revive him, rescue workers could not feel a pulse or resuscitate his breathing. The man was transported by ambulance to the county hospital where he was pronounced dead.