MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — A 37-year-old swimmer was revived Sunday after nearly drowning offshore at Groveland Beach Park.
Mercer Island police said units were called at about 2 p.m. Sunday to a report of a drowning in progress.
People at the beach saw a man struggling in the water, pulled him out, performed CPR and called 911, officials said.
Witnesses said he was underwater for at least 10 minutes. No lifeguards were on duty at the time.
When medics arrived, they rushed him to the hospital.
The incident happened during Seafair, which prompted a large police and fire response.
It also happened during a time the city of Mercer Island said cuts to lifeguards had been made because of budget cuts.
Some witnesses described the scene as chaotic.
“We see some lady screaming, and there was, like, four people pulling this guy out of the water,” one witness said.
Mark Madalina said the man was swimming with his family and by the time bystanders found him, he had been underwater for a while.
“It was horrible. We were here to party, and the wife was crying, and we were just really, really upset,” Joy Lewis said.
"Kinda of made me sick to my stomach seeing all that," Madalina said.
As medics carried the man to the hospital, victims learned and were relieved to find out he was revived.
“You end up taking life for granted sometimes, and it makes you think how vulnerable we are,” Lewis said.
A woman who performed CPR on the man said a big problem was no one called 911 for at least 10 minutes.
Officials said later that the man was listed in critical condition.
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