The 911 calls of a river drowning where rescuers initially went to the wrong location have been released.
At a news conference that concluded Tuesday afternoon, the emergency communications manger for APD and a division chief for Austin-Travis County EMS say this was not an issue about language and communication, but rather a caller that simply did not provide an accurate location.
Some of the confusion over where the drowning was taking place can be heard during portions of this 911 call.
Dispatcher: Ok, he says I-35 northbound at Montopolis.
Translator: He's saying all he can see is a bunch of bridges and they are underneath the bridge.
Translator: Under I-35
Translator: Yes, yes, right under I-35
The caller claimed the drowning was taking place at Interstate 35 and the river.
EMS, fire and APD units arrived on the north side of Lady Bird Lake, downtown, 11 minutes after the 911 call was received.
The caller was asked if he could see the units. When he said he could not, he was questioned further about his exact location and that is when crews learned he and the victim had been swimming on the river under the Montopolis Bridge.
Crews arrived there six minutes later. They worked on the victims and he was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was pronounced dead.
The victim's next of kin has not yet been notified, so police are not releasing his name.
