THOUSAND OAKS : Pool Accident Kills Man in Wheelchair
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A Thousand Oaks man died early Monday after his wheelchair rolled into his back-yard swimming pool, Ventura County sheriff’s deputies said.
Raymond Chew Wong, 39, was pronounced dead at Los Robles Medical Center about 15 hours after being pulled from the pool.
Sgt. Gregg Whitesell said Wong’s father-in-law called the 911 emergency line at 1:10 p.m. Sunday to report that Wong had fallen with his wheelchair into the pool. The father-in-law was the only person home and did not know how to swim, Whitesell said.
Deputy Gary Parker, the first to arrive at the home on Whitechapel Place, found the unconscious Wong in the deep end of the pool, pulled him to the surface and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Whitesell said. Wong was under water an estimated eight to 10 minutes.
Wong used the wheelchair because of advanced lung cancer and a recent back operation, Deputy Coroner Jim Wingate said.
Whitesell said the Sheriff’s Department is treating the death as an accidental drowning pending further investigation.
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