Firefighters Unable to Revive 19-Year-Old Found in Pool

A 19-year-old man who had been suffering from back spasms Sunday was later found drowned in the family’s backyard swimming pool, authorities said.

Family members found the man, whose name was not released, at the bottom of a pool about 7:40 p.m. clad in a T-shirt and shorts, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

Family members pulled the man from the water and were trying to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation with the assistance of a city fire dispatcher when firefighters arrived, Humphrey said.

Firefighters pronounced the man dead at the scene, a residence in the 9100 block of Valjean Avenue, near Calahan Street.

Earlier in the day the man, who according to family members had a history of back problems, experienced back spasms while working on his car, Humphrey said.

As a result, authorities said, he decided to quit working on his car and go for a swim. He was last seen by family members about an hour before he was found in the pool.

“It’s a very sad, sad incident,” Humphrey said. “It’s important to remind the public that regardless of someone’s swimming ability that they should always swim in the presence of another accomplished swimmer.”