Worker rescued from atop Fresno State water tower dies a day later

A man who suffered from apparent heat exhaustion while working atop the Fresno State water tower has died, the Fresno County Coroner’s Office said Thursday. He was identified as 27-year-old Jason Peters of Palm Coast, Florida.

Fresno firefighters Wednesday lowered a work crew from atop the Fresno State water tower to safety after Peters became unconscious.

Peters was rushed to a hospital after his heart stopped in high heat on the tower, said Fresno Fire Department spokesman Mike Gilbert.

Emergency workers were able to revive Peters in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. The other two workers were also treated after becoming ill in the high heat on the Fresno State landmark.

The three men are employees of Oregon-based Liquivision Technology Diving Services, university spokeswoman Lisa Marie Boyles Bell said. Liquivision was contracted by Fresno State for the maintenance, cleaning and inspection of the 150,000-gallon water tank, a protocol that is required every three years.

Conditions on the structure were likely worsened by poor air quality due to wildfires in nearby foothills. Late-morning and midday temperatures were in the low- to mid-90s with the high expected around 104.

Firefighters needed to rig a rescue basket at the top of the structure after arriving about 10:30 a.m.

The water tank serves as a reserve for the university’s potable drinking water system.

This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 1:29 PM.