Man drowns in Merced River, deputies say. Witnesses say he was swept away
Key Takeaways
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- Deputies responded to a drowning report at the Merced River near Cressey Bridge.
- Witnesses saw the man struggle before being swept away by the river's current.
- Dive team located the body using a remotely operated vehicle in 15 feet of water.
A man drowned in the Merced River on Thursday night.
Deputies responded to the drowning at 6:41 p.m. and arrived at the Cressey Bridge area. Witnesses told deputies a man was struggling in the water before he was swept away by the current.
First responders arrived and began search and rescue efforts, deputies said.
At 10:44 p.m., the man was located in 15 feet of water by the dive team using a remotely operated vehicle, deputies said.
A diver recovered the body.
The identity of the victim was not available, pending next of kin.
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 10:06 AM.
Anthony Galaviz
The Fresno Bee