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Local cyclists on the Tuesday Night Bicykillers Bike Ride were giving a "no-show" rider a hard time on the Midnight Ridazz forum, but when they heard the rider's excuse, it left them apologizing and genuflecting. Here's what happened Tuesday night, a personal account from the rider, Mark Oshiro, himself:
I went on a short 4 mile run and on my way back to my pad (right next to MacArthur Park) I saw the birdy in the sky shining a light on the lake. Then I saw a head pop up above water and go back down.I ran down to the lake and yelled out if anyone knew him. No one answered, so I started taking my shoes off. Some lady yelled, "HURRY HE IS A DROWNING!" and I jumped in.
I swam to him and tried to put my arm around his neck/under his head like I was taught but the guy was plastered and thought I was attacking him. So he pushed me underwater and held me for a few seconds. (Aside: HOLY FUCK, SCARIEST THING EVER.) I came up for air and ended up dragging him back slowly to the shore. (Is shore even the right word? It's surrounded by concrete. Hmmm.)
I was pretty pissed that no one offered to help and the paramedics/cops/firefighters that had showed up just stood there. And proceeded to tell me about all the gnarly diseases I could catch. And how they weren't going to go in to get him because, "that's sooooo gross." It was kind of disturbing to find out that they were pretty much going to let him sit out there until....I don't know? He drowned? Which probably would have happened about 30 seconds later had I not been there.I went home and threw up in the shower. That water is gross. So was the display of inhumanity shown to me and the guy in the water. I don't have too much sympathy for the guy, especially since he was drunk out of his mind and held me under water for trying to save him. But whatever. Drowning sucks, drunk or not, and no one else would have done anything."
Mark Oshiro's friends were angry that nobody waded out to help but ultimately proud of his singular and heroic action but through it all Mark had a positive attitude declaring "LESS ABOUT THIS AND MORE ABOUT BICYKILLERS. I hope no one is drowning next week so I can finally do this ride."
"See you on the Streets!"
Photo courtesy by Atardos
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I can say truthfully that I would not have gone in, so kudos to this guy.
Wow!! More power to him. No one deserves to die....even if the guy was plastered. Sad that others just stood there and watched.
It is bicyclists who will save this planet, one drowning combative drunk-in-the-muck at a time.
Oshiro rhymes with HERO!
a true Hero!
kudos to this guy for doing the right thing!
Thank God he didn't take you under with him. For that reason I too wouldn't have gone in to save him but kudos to you for risking your life for this dumbass drunk. I think you've racked up some major credits to get into Heaven.
I'll pass on a ticket to heaven and take a "Free of Possible Diseases" card instead. Yikes, that water is gross.
Thanks for the kind words, guys. I am flattered.
Please pardon my tardy reply to this thread, which was (as you might imagine) troubling for me to read.
The post of course, offered as many questions as it may have answers - yet Stephen's stated actions and displayed concern for a person in distress must be recognized and lauded.
Like you, I am deeply pleased that there was only one person requiring assistance - and he was taken to California Hospital by LAFD ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.
While I look more deeply into the matter, I will strongly encourage Stephen to contact the Battalion Chief who oversees the MacArthur Park community at (213) 485-6281.
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
Sorry, make that Mark not Stephen - and kudos to him for participating in the AIDS/LifeCycle event.
Brian
Brian! I get Twitters from you all the time!
I'll contact the chief. Thanks!
Mark,
Again thanks (to you and Steve) for sharing your experience here on LAist.
We appreciate your following us on Twitter, and remain confident that the LAFD Battalion Chief who oversees that area can address your aforementioned concerns in a full and forthright manner.
Please always ride and Twitter safely!
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
LAFD Blog: lafd.org/blog
Sometimes guys just don't feel like they can live any longer; the pain of loss or rejection is too much. They get drunk, and try to kill themselves.
If someone saves them they usually realize that life is worth living, and never try suicide again. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
Those public employees in the park remind me of the Seattle cops who stood by while a guy was beaten to death by a mob, because they were 'waiting for orders' to deal with the mob.
Why do guys like that join police / fire departments? Retirement after 20 years; job security; good health insurance; plenty of overtime; very low educational requirements...