Man found unresponsive in lagoon

A Houston resident was in critical condition Thursday after he disappeared while swimming in the East End Lagoon near East Beach, authorities said.

The Galveston Island Beach Patrol is investigating.

Rodesto Melendez, 56, was swimming on the east side of a bridge that spans the lagoon, which connects to the ship channel. He disappeared about 4:30 a.m., Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis said.

Melendez’s relatives noticed him missing and found him at least five minutes later on the west side of the bridge.

“The incoming tide pushed him under the bridge, and he came up on the shoreline in a fairly short period of time,” Davis said.

Firefighters were performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Melendez when the Beach Patrol arrived, Davis said.

An ambulance took Melendez to the University of Texas Medical Branch, Davis said.

A hospital spokeswoman listed Melendez in critical condition late Thursday afternoon.

Melendez was with relatives from Houston when he entered the water.

The lagoon and ship channel are restricted swimming areas, and signs both in English and Spanish warn people to stay out of the water, Davis said.

The Beach Patrol moves swimmers from the water near Boddeker Road during the day and enforces no-parking zones near the bridge to deter swimming, Davis said.

Since the enforcement, no one has drowned in the last two summers off Boddeker Road, Davis said.

“One of the most dangerous areas is the lagoon, with the current going back and forth,” Davis said. “That’s where we’ve had people drown over the last 10 years.”

Designated parking areas are 500 yards from the bridge to discourage people from swimming in the lagoon, Davis said.