A man who died after he and two other swimmers were
pulled from the ocean off Venice Beach was from the state of Colorado, authorities said yesterday.
Troy Mendez, 49, of Westminster died at a hospital, said coroner’s
Assistant Chief Ed Winter. An autopsy was pending.
Lifeguards responded about 5:30 p.m. Sunday to reports of three swimmers in distress north of Venice Pier, about 50 yards offshore, said Los Angeles County Fire Department spokeswoman Lidia Barillas. Rescue personnel found all three swimmers conscious and breathing, she said.
Lifeguards grabbed the swimmers and began to bring them back toward shore when one of the swimmers lost consciousness, Barillas said. Lifeguards began CPR on the beach, and emergency responders continued CPR as the man was en route to a hospital, Barillas said.
Officials did not know how long the trio had been in the water, Stewart said. The surf at the time of the rescue was about 1 to 2 feet, Barillas said.
– from CNS
