{"id":346115,"date":"2026-06-04T06:33:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T06:33:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/346115\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T06:33:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T06:33:19","slug":"friends-try-to-rescue-man-swept-away-in-san-joaquin-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/346115\/","title":{"rendered":"Friends try to rescue man swept away in San Joaquin River"},"content":{"rendered":"

A 24-year-old man drowned in the San Joaquin River in Mendota in western Fresno County on Monday.<\/p>\n

In an update Tuesday, the Fresno County Sheriff\u2019s Office said deputies responded at 5:30 p.m. after receiving reports that a small group was hanging out at the river near San Mateo Avenue.<\/p>\n

Deputies said James Romero Soriano entered the water despite not knowing how to swim. The river\u2019s swift current carried him away, and he went underwater.<\/p>\n

His friends called 911 while continuing to search for him. After approximately 15 minutes, they found him and pulled him to shore.<\/p>\n

First responders arrived and began giving him CPR. A helicopter flew Soriano to Community Regional Center, where he died.<\/p>\n

The Sheriff\u2019s Office offered tips for approaching water:<\/p>\n

1. Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Make sure it is secure and fits the person properly.<\/p>\n

2. Stay out of the water if you are not an experienced swimmer.<\/p>\n

3. Parents should watch their children at all times.<\/p>\n

4. Do not mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol causes swimmers to fatigue faster than normal and can create dangerous situations.<\/p>\n

5. Understand that when it\u2019s hot outside you will get tired faster than usual.<\/p>\n

6. Respect the water. The temperature of the water remains cold and 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.<\/p>\n

7. Be careful of the mud on the bottom of lakes and rivers, it\u2019s 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 to deep in a short distance.<\/p>\n

Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Anthony Galaviz<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n

Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He\u2019s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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