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Man apparently drowns at Malibu Creek park
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More from County NewsAn Inglewood man died of apparent drowning Saturday at Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas.
Ulices Israel Valladares, 20, and other visitors to the park had been taking turns swinging on a rope and jumping into the water below. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, witnesses saw Valladares plunge into the water, rise to the surface and then go under again. He did not resurface.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the scene at 11:45 a.m. Divers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department found Valladares' body. He was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m.
Malibu Creek meanders through the park for 25 miles. It was not immediately known in which of the park's bodies of water the accident occurred.
Posted by toy.runner on July 20, 2008 at 5:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As sad as this is, the victim was reportedly a bad swimmer at best.
If he had a flotation device, we may not have read about him in the paper.
Posted by goldeneye on July 20, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That water is filthy. The thought of swimming in it is just disgusting.
Posted by vcsexplorer11 on July 20, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He probably swallowed the filthy water. I am sure that was enough.
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on July 20, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Man''' apparently''' drowns at Malibu Creek park"
Sounds fishy to me! Why would they say "apparently"......weird.
Posted by Comments on July 20, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hueneme girl, the use of the word "apparently" by the Star is not weird at all. The drowning was indeed apparent. However, until the medical examiner determines that the cause of death was indeed drowning then it is not yet a fact. Even though it was apparent that he drowned, he could have died from other means (i.e. heart attack, hit his head on a rock, etc).
Note the following definition of the word apparent from dictionary.com:
1. readily seen; exposed to sight; open to view; visible: The crack in the wall was readily apparent.
2. capable of being easily perceived or understood; plain or clear; obvious: The solution to the problem was apparent to all.
3. according to appearances, initial evidence, incomplete results, etc.; ostensible rather than actual: He was the apparent winner of the election.
So, the writer's use of the word "apparent" was perfectly appropriate.
Posted by santabarbarasand on July 20, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People saw him come up and then go back under... why didn't anyone jump in and pull him out? That is what baffles me most about these types of stories, especially if it's in relatively still (apparantly if there is a rope swing) water. I don't know about you but if I saw someone struggle like this I would jump in!! How is it that his body was still in the water for firemen to find?? Yes, it took them an hour to do it so it seems that maybe there was some current in the "meandering" water but it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I know, I wasn't there, but reasoning tells me something is off here.
Posted by Zippy on July 21, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunatly I was there floating around in a float tube. The water is clear/clean(filtered by all the reeds and plants)Everyone was having a great time...Nobody noticed anyone missing for a few minutes and then they tried to search in vain for him. The rope swing and launch area are very shallow but go into steep downward(The dam blocks much of the sunlight you would need to see to the bottom of the lake) slope after just a feet from shore. If the gentleman fell just to the outside of the begining of the deeper water area it would be dificult to see that deep(and swim that deep down retrieving dead weight) My condolances to the family. My Heart truly goes out to you and yours. Bless You...Michael
Posted by Mater on July 21, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are under water rocks that you have to be careful of where that swing is. Its really not a very safe rope swing, a lot of things could have happened when he hit the water :( very sad
Posted by Eaglesgirl on July 24, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Toyrunner:
"If he had a flotation device, we may not have read about him in the paper."
Smartass remark how dare you!
He's my cousin and the family doesnt appreciate you guys talking about him
Posted by Eaglesgirl on July 24, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Im sorry i meant that message to Toyrunner only! I
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