Man Dies After Rescuing Niece in Electrically Charged Pool

A Sylmar man died Sunday while trying to rescue his 14-year-old niece from his backyard swimming pool, which was charged with electricity, authorities said.

Paramedics were called to the house in the 13400 block of Gridley Street around 3 p.m. and found an unconscious man who had been pulled from the pool by his wife and a neighbor, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Bob Collis.

Brian McGahan, 31, was taken by ambulance to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he later died, Collis said.

Los Angeles Police Sgt. Phil Smith said the incident began when McGahan’s niece felt a shock from an underwater light fixture that had come out of its housing.

“There was some amount of electrical current in the water due to live wires, which caused the girl to scream for help,” Smith said.

Her uncle responded by jumping in the pool and was assisting in getting her to the edge when he drowned. The girl was able to get out.

“It was a courageous act, but unfortunately, he didn’t make it,” Smith said.

Authorities said the victim’s wife and a neighbor pulled him out of the water and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The women said they felt the electrical current in the water, Collis said.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office will investigate the incident, but police said they consider it an accidental drowning.

“I’m sure the electrical current was a factor,” Smith said, “but it is undetermined at this time how it led to the drowning.”

The girl’s condition was not immediately available, Collis said. She was taken to Providence Holy Cross hospital by private car.