Editor, Ceres Courier,

Not long ago I wrote about how I saved a man from drowning in the Ceres Canal.  This past weekend a man tragically died in the same canal a few feet away from where I rescued that man.  

The person I rescued was not intoxicated and was simply ashamed this had happened to him because he underestimated the current. Upon finding him, I noticed his hands and knees were bloodied from trying to scale the walls of the canal but couldn’t get out because the moss made it incredibly slippery and difficult to get out.

Since I rescued that man, I believe two or more people have tragically died in those canals. I know there are signs posted everywhere warning residents not to get in, but I overheard the homeless man tell the officer that responded to the scene that he had swam in the Modesto canal no problem.

I may be wrong, but I believe these deaths to be devoid of foul play and simply victims of lack of safety around these canals. I’m including a picture below of the rope I used to save the man from the canal. Five feet of rope costs less than $10 at Home Depot. Placing rope near the edges of the canal could likely save several lives going forward. Please consider this or other safety measures to prevent further death and trauma to those who may come across drowned corpses in our canals.

Alvaro Franco

LETTERS POLICY: Letters will be considered for publication but must be signed and include an address and phone number. Letters should be 250 words or less and be void of libel. Send to The Ceres Courier, 138 S. Center Street, Turlock CA 95380 or emailed to jeffb@cerescourier.com.