Fullerton Man Hospitalized After Sinking in Pool

A 26-year-old Fullerton man was in critical condition Tuesday after being pulled from an apartment complex swimming pool, authorities said.

Muhammad Aqil’s family witnessed the accident Monday night but apparently thought he was pulling a prank when he flailed in the water before sinking in the deep end of the pool, police said.

“He was fighting to stay afloat,” Fullerton Police Lt. Jeff Roop said. “Ultimately he went down. They thought he was kidding. Then they noticed he was at the bottom of the pool for a while.”

Neighbors who heard screams from Aqil’s wife ran to the pool, which is at an apartment complex in the 600 block of Imperial Highway. They performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived and transported Aqil to St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, authorities said.

The incident was the third of its kind this week in Orange County, fire officials said. A 2-year-old boy was in critical condition after falling into a backyard hot tub in Laguna Niguel on Sunday. And a 13-year-old girl from Daly City died Monday after being pulled from the bottom of a pool at the Anaheim Plaza Hotel.