>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

revived on scene: Emergency personnel prepare to transport Jose Flores of La Grande to Grande Ronde Hospital Friday afternoon following his near-drowning in a storm drain catch basin in a south La Grande neighborhood. - The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER

Jose Flores, 45, was discovered shortly before 2 p.m. by three passersby with his upper torso stuck in a storm-drain catch basin. His head was submerged.

The passersby pulled Flores from the catch basin, Lt. Derick Reddington of the La Grande Police Department said. Two of the individuals are in the medical profession, Reddington said.

“When they pulled him out, he was unresponsive,” Reddington said. “CPR was immediately activated by those citizens.”

The police department, city fire and ambulance and public works responded to the scene. Flores was eventually revived to the point of breathing on his own and transported to the hospital.

This morning, the hospital reported Flores’ condition was stable and that he was expected to be discharged soon.

Reddington said the public works department replaced the storm-drain grate. He said it is unknown how the cover was removed, but he suspects Flores, who lives nearby, may have done it himself.

“We’re not sure if he dropped something down there or what he was doing,” Reddington said.