ALAMEDA - Firefighters rescued a swimmer who was in distress off Robert Crown Memorial State Beach Monday afternoon.
FRM/FFN: California Fire Crew Watches Man Drown; Lack of Training Kept Crews from Attempting Rescue
The swimmer, whose name and age were not immediately available, was transported to Alameda Hospital. Their condition also was not available.
The rescue of the swimmer comes as the Alameda Fire Department has been revamping its land-water rescue program since the suicidal death of Raymond Zack, 52, at the beach last Memorial Day.
Firefighters came under stinging public criticism after they remained on shore as Zack waded farther into San Francisco Bay, saying they were not certified in land-water rescue and did not have a boat that could maneuver in the shallow water.
A rescue boat has since been put into service and at least 21 firefighters have undergone training as lifeguards since Zack's death. Firefighters have also responded to at least a dozen water emergencies since the drowning.
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