Drowning victim's name released

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Alabama (WALA) - We are learning more facts about the drowning that happened on Dauphin Island over the Labor Day weekend. In fact, the response was brought up in the city council meeting Tuesday night. There were concerns that the situation wasn't handled properly.

Labor Day weekend turned deadly on Dauphin Island when a 39-year-old man drowned.

"The individual that drowned was on a raft and apparently had gone to sleep. He had it on the beach and it came loose somehow and when he woke up, he was out in the water," said Dauphin Island Police Chief George Goodwin.

Police said Shangzhi Zuo did not know how to swim. Apparently he lost hold of the raft and began frantically trying to stay afloat. Police said Zuo did have two friends with him, but they did not know how to swim either. Another problem, none of the three spoke English.

Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier said the accident has gotten some attention due to concerns that emergency response wasn't fast enough.

"An internal process is continuing and what we intend to do once the information is in, I've asked the two chiefs for recommendations to improve services," Collier said.

Collier said the couple that pulled Zuo from the water was at the council meeting and questioned why it took so long for an ambulance to arrive. They told the council they want something done.

"There is always room to improve and we will be looking at that. If there is a way to do it we certainly will," Collier said.

Collier said the island has public service officers that are EMT's and the island also has volunteer fire and rescue. He said however, they ultimately have to rely on Mobile County EMS for emergencies and they have to travel from the mainland to the island which unfortunately takes valuable time.