Firefighters and police officers watch as individual dies

A man drowned in cold waters in San Francisco Monday as firefighters and about 75 spectators viewed. The first responders were strictly forbidden by police to attempt a rescue, which was regarded as too unsafe in the frigid water.

Guy supposedly wished to die

The individual walked up to his neck in the water at 11:30 a.m. on Memorial day. The water was 54 degrees although the man, Raymond Zack, was 52 or 53 years old. He lost consciousness and drowned eventually. The U.S. Coast Guard could not rescue him in a boat due to the shallow waters.

Evidently Zack’s stepmother told witness Sharon Brunetti to call the law enforcement. Zack supposedly told the stepmother that he wished to kill himself. Zack “gradually inched out farther and farther” although glancing back at shore regularly, according to Brunetti.

Rescue workers and spectators together

For around an hour, police, Coast Guard and around 75 other individuals watched what happened. Zack’s lifeless body was brought back to shore by a 20-year-old woman that got in the water. There was speculation that she was a nurse. She was just not on duty.

Alameda police Lt. Sean Lynch said law enforcement officers lacked the gear for the cold water and could not risk being pulled under. “Certainly this was tragic, but police officers are tasked with ensuring public safety, including the safety of personnel who are sent to try to resolve these kinds of situations.”

Water rescues cut from spending budget

Water rescue training and water rescues themselves were cut from the budget in the Alameda Fire Department. This happened two years ago.

”The incident yesterday was deeply regrettable,” Interim Fire Chief Mike D’Orazi said. “But I can also see it from our firefighters’ perspective. They’re standing there wanting to do something, but they are handcuffed by policy at that point.” Now, D’Orazi wants to change things. He is planning on putting water rescue back in.

Several complain

After receiving a flood of complaints Tuesday, the city of San Francisco appropriated $20,000 to $40,000 to train 16 firefighters in land-based water rescue training.

Citations

Newser

newser.com/story/119849/man-dies-in-sf-bay-while-firefighters-police-watch.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43233984/ns/us_news-life/

Huliq

huliq.com/3257/man-dies-hypothermia-san-francisco-bay-authorities-watch