Man Critical After Near Drowning in Municipal Pool

By Lookout Staff

An unidentified man was in critical condition Monday after nearly drowning in Santa Monica's Municipal Pool on Saturday afternoon.

The man, who was taken to Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, remains unresponsive and on life support, said hospital spokesman Ted Braun.

Witnesses said the man was swimming laps underwater at the city's Municipal Pool on the Santa Monica College campus when he failed to come up for air at approximately 12:40 p.m.

"We were advised he was practicing underwater to see how long he could stay under," said Santa Monica College Police Chief Eileen Miller. "He popped back up and then stayed a little longer (underwater) than he should have."

A woman who was swimming laps next to him alerted the lifeguards that the man had stayed under water too long, Miller said.

Lifeguards rescued the man and administered CPR until paramedics from the Santa Monica Fire Department arrived on the scene, police said. The paramedics took over the first aid and transported the man to the hospital.

The man has not yet been identified.

The pool, which is on the college campus, belongs to the city, which charges $2 for its use. The lifeguards are paid by the city.