Jogger Rescues Drowning Man in MacArthur Park; LAPD, LAFD Just Watch, Fail To Take Action
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