Man rescued from Central Fresno canal

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno man's attempt to cool off inside a central Fresno canal ended with a rescue operation, and one of our ABC30 insiders was there when it all happened.

Firefighters say by the time they arrived Friday, the victim had been in the water for at least 20 minutes. Witnesses told them the man is known to go into the water frequently as a way to cool off, clean things and get water.

When he does this he uses a rope to lower himself in but, for some reason, lost grip of that rope Friday.

"Was then intercepted by friends, tried to get him out weren't able to go under the bridge," Randy Reitz with Fresno Fire said.

Rescuers want to remind people to stay out of canals like this because they can be dangerous. And this time of the year, the water is extremely cold.

The 50-year-old man did not have any injuries.