HUNTINGTON BEACH : Man Misses Pool in Fatal Dive From Roof

A 24-year-old man died after he tried to dive 30 feet from the roof of a two-story apartment complex into a pool and missed the water by one foot, authorities said.

Alan Geoffrey Jones, 24, of Fountain Valley, had been drinking for at least five hours Sunday when he dove onto the concrete pool deck shortly before 10:30 p.m., Police Sgt. Janet Perez said.

Jones had been visiting a couple at the apartment in the 2800 block of 17th Street. The couple repeatedly had told Jones not to attempt the plunge into the 10-by-30-foot pool, police said.

Neighbors interviewed Monday morning said the close-knit residents at the complex all rushed out to help try to revive Jones.

“I heard this splash and just thought that somebody was goofing off late at night,” neighbor Vicki Kane said. “Then I looked outside and everyone was running around dialing 911 and doing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), just trying to help.”

Jones’ friends told investigators that he had been drinking beer with them since 5 p.m. Sunday, Lt. Ed McErlain said. The three decided to use the pool later that night.

“Jones told his friends that he thought he could dive off the rooftop into the pool,” Perez said. “His friends told him repeatedly not to attempt the dive, that it was too far to jump. Jones ignored his friends’ warnings and climbed out of the pool and up to the second-floor landing of the apartment complex.”

He then turned around and again asked his companions if they thought he could make it and again they told him not to try it, police said. He then disappeared, came out on the roof, then ran forward and jumped, friends told investigators.

Jones’ body fell into the pool after his head hit the ground, McErlain said. His friends pulled him out and yelled for help.

“It’s a death wish, really, to try something like that,” neighbor Liz Bowman said. “Alcohol will do that to you.”