Good Samaritan Saves Man Found Face-Down In Motel Pool
LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Joseph Lombardi left the City Center Motel Sunday for his morning bike ride and noticed his neighbor swimming in the pool as he left.
"About 15 or 20 minutes later, I came back and he was at the bottom of the pool, not moving, and I wasn't sure if he was holding his breath or whatever," the Long Beach resident said.
Lombardi acted quickly - he grabbed a long pool hook and dragged his neighbor to the surface.
"And I grabbed him and started pulling him up. And I got him up above the water and all of the bubbles came out of his mouth, so maybe he had air," he said.
Paramedics transported the neighbor to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Lombardi doesn't consider himself a hero or, even, a good Samaritan; he believes anyone else would have done the same thing under the circumstances.
"I'd give you the shirt off my back if I can, you know," Lombardi said.
Long Beach police investigated the scene and say it appears to be a pool accident. They don't suspect foul play at this time.
