Carson teen saves man in shallow-water diving accident

A Carson City man injured his neck Sunday diving off a pier next to the Valhalla Boathouse Theater.

"He dove in head first," said Cody Barber, 15, of Carson City, who watched the accident. "I guess he thought it was deep."

Barber estimated the man was face down in the water for about four minutes before being rescued. The diver, whose first name is Hugo, launched from a standing position on the railing of the pier. It is about 15 feet higher than the water, which was no more than 4 feet deep.

Barber said people didn't immediately rescue Hugo because he was moving his head. Witnesses speculated, according to Barber, that the man was holding his breath and wanted to be under water.

"I jumped in and got him," Barber said. "I knew something was wrong."

Hugo could just move his head.

"He started to take a breath when I pulled him out," Barber said. "I tried to get him to say something but he wouldn't."

A Calstar medical helicopter landed on Highway 89 about 1 p.m. and transported Hugo to Washoe Medical Center in Reno. His condition was stable. and he was conscious and able to talk during the flight, said flight nurse Frank Bartuska.

The pier is at the Tallac Historic Site, managed by the U.S. Forest Service. No signs are posted on the pier warning of shallow water.

"I'd say anytime you go out in the water it's a good idea before you start jumping to check," said South Lake Tahoe fire Capt. Sean Ward. "Since the water is low in a lot of places, you should use real caution in jumping off things, even on boats. You shouldn't be jumping anywhere you're not familiar with."

Annie Hess of Ridgecrest feared the worst when she heard about the Sunday accident on the pier because five of her six children make a habit of jumping off of it.

"I just had terrible thoughts," Hess said. "I knew they were all down here."