A 49-year-old man from Oregon passed away on Sunday morning, just one day following his discovery unconscious close to a non-swimming zone at a Galveston beach. This incident marks the first drowning occurrence of the year on the island.
On Saturday afternoon, Galveston Island Beach Patrol officials observed a swimmer who seemed to be having difficulty, as stated in an agency press release. When a supervisor went into the water to help this individual, they found him unresponsive and without breath, according to the same statement.
SHOOTING:
A burglary suspect was killed and a security guard was wounded during a shootout on Sunday in the River Oaks area.
CPR was performed on the man before he was taken to a nearby hospital. He was pronounced dead Sunday morning.
Beach Patrol Lt. Austin Kirwin said the man was visiting the island with family and friends.
Kirwin mentioned that Galveston usually sees between six to eight drownings annually on average.
As summer approaches, Kirwan noted that beachgoers should follow certain safety measures:
-
Check
visitgalveston.com
for swimming conditions - Know how to swim
- Swim near a lifeguard
- Swim with a friend
- Have a designated “water watcher” in case swimmers run into problems
The flag system
On visitgalveston.com, authorities update swim conditions, typically represented using flags.
Green: Water is calm.
Yellow: Proceed with care. For those who aren’t strong swimmers, Kirwin suggests staying within waist-deep water.
Red: Unusual circumstances, often due to powerful gusts of wind or big waves. Individuals who aren’t proficient swimmers shouldn’t enter the water, and anyone venturing in ought to wear a flotation device, according to Kirwin.
Lavender: Danger from jellyfish, Portuguese man o’ war, stingrays, or other sea creatures capable of harming a swimmer.
Orange: Ecological alert regarding atmospheric and/or aquatic conditions.
Ramping up staffing
Kirwin mentioned that the agency is increasing staff numbers as summer draws closer; however, until then, visitors are advised to swim close to where the lifeguards are stationed.
He similarly advised visitors to avoid entering designated “no swimming” zones, pointing out that these regions typically experience the formation of rip currents and are often close to submerged rocks.
He advised staying towards the center of the beach and swimming within your capabilities,” he said. “If you’re not a strong swimmer, avoid venturing too far into the water since this isn’t like a pool. The sea is highly unpredictable and constantly changing.
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