Man Drowns in Kings River 

April 21, 2025 – Fresno County Sheriff's Office officials report that at around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 20 the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office received a report of two men in the Kings River who were struggling to stay above water. Neither were wearing life jackets. 

Deputies responded to Winton Park to try and locate the men. Our EAGLE One helicopter crew and Cal Fire Fresno County Firefighters arrived as well. Deputies aboard the helicopter found one man safe on an island downstream. The other man was nearby, submerged in the water. Our pilot landed on the island and the crew was able to get the man out of the water and into the helicopter. He was flown a short distance away to where EMS personnel were staged. The man was then transported to the hospital and later declared deceased. The other man picked up from the island received medical treatment and is expected to be ok.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages the community to stay out of local rivers right now. While the temperature outside feels like spring, the water feels more like winter. Right now, conditions are extremely dangerous as river temperatures are in the low 50s and currents are very strong as dams are releasing large amounts of water. 

Additional water safety tips:

1.) Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. Make sure it is secured and fits the person properly.

2.) Stay out of the water if you are not an experienced swimmer.

3.) Parents should watch their children at all times.

4.) Do not mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol causes swimmers to fatigue faster than normal and can create dangerous situations.

5.) Understand that when it’s hot outside you will get tired faster than usual.

6.) Respect the water. When the temperature of the water remains cold, it can cause hypothermia to set in rather quickly. Recognize that the current is often stronger than it appears. There can be debris in the water, which is difficult to see and may cause hazardous situations for swimmers.

7.) Be careful of the mud on the bottom of lakes and rivers, it’s easy to sink in some spots and get your feet stuck. Also, use your feet to feel for drop off spots. River and lake bottoms can dramatically change from shallow into deep in a short distance.

Source & photo: Fresno County Sheriff's Office