LAS VEGAS (KSNV) —
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed a body was found at the Bellagio Hotel-Casino Friday morning.
According to authorities, officers responded to the resort's water fountains at approximately 10:12 a.m. to assist in a possible drowning.
Capt. Dori Koren said the victim, who is believed to be a transient individual and a Las Vegas local, began engaging with tourists in the area.
During one "engagement," the victim then jumped into the water fountains, where he attempted to swim toward the middle areas of the fountain.
He then started to struggle and needed assistance, Capt. Koren said, and that's when authorities responded.
A tourist elected to jumped into the water to attempt to help but they determined it was too difficult to swim and returned.
The Clark County Coroner's Office has been notified and will release the identity of the person.
Police identified him as a white male who was approximately 40 to 50-years-old.
Another individual, who was unrelated to the incident, also jumped into the fountains but was pulled out quickly.
Traffic on the Las Vegas Strip was not impacted but police taped block portions of the fountains for a short time.
News Three spoke to a tourist who saw everything unfold before calling police.
“He started yelling help, help, so I started yelling like ‘you’re so close. Keep swimming. You’re so close. You’re almost there. Just kick.' He then started yelling again for help, so I called 911 and he started to go under," said Kayla Eklun.
Eklun said witnessing the man drown was frightening.
“I’ve never seen anyone die. My friend and I, we were just saying ‘this isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.’ We kept thinking ‘what could we have done? What could we have done?’ But if any of us jumped in before he went under, he would have drowned us," she said.
Metro said they don’t know yet if drugs or alcohol were involved.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/news3lv.com/amp/news/local/lvmpd-body-found-at-bellagio-fountains
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed a body was found at the Bellagio Hotel-Casino Friday morning.
According to authorities, officers responded to the resort's water fountains at approximately 10:12 a.m. to assist in a possible drowning.
Capt. Dori Koren said the victim, who is believed to be a transient individual and a Las Vegas local, began engaging with tourists in the area.
During one "engagement," the victim then jumped into the water fountains, where he attempted to swim toward the middle areas of the fountain.
He then started to struggle and needed assistance, Capt. Koren said, and that's when authorities responded.
A tourist elected to jumped into the water to attempt to help but they determined it was too difficult to swim and returned.
The Clark County Coroner's Office has been notified and will release the identity of the person.
Police identified him as a white male who was approximately 40 to 50-years-old.
Another individual, who was unrelated to the incident, also jumped into the fountains but was pulled out quickly.
Traffic on the Las Vegas Strip was not impacted but police taped block portions of the fountains for a short time.
News Three spoke to a tourist who saw everything unfold before calling police.
“He started yelling help, help, so I started yelling like ‘you’re so close. Keep swimming. You’re so close. You’re almost there. Just kick.' He then started yelling again for help, so I called 911 and he started to go under," said Kayla Eklun.
Eklun said witnessing the man drown was frightening.
“I’ve never seen anyone die. My friend and I, we were just saying ‘this isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.’ We kept thinking ‘what could we have done? What could we have done?’ But if any of us jumped in before he went under, he would have drowned us," she said.
Metro said they don’t know yet if drugs or alcohol were involved.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/news3lv.com/amp/news/local/lvmpd-body-found-at-bellagio-fountains
