(Newser) – A 35-year-old man in California nearly died because of a brawl at a family water park—and it began over a beach towel. Cal Expo police say the fight took place between two large families last Sunday afternoon at the Raging Waters park, reports the Sacramento Bee. Apparently, two women got into a disagreement over the ownership of a towel, and it quickly turned physical, per KCRA. Modesto resident Christopher Neves intervened, then got jumped by others, say police.

“There were two large families … about 15 people on each side engaged in mutual combat,” says Cal Expo Police Chief Everest Robillard, per CBS13. “One person was down on the ground semi-unconscious.” Neves had no pulse or heartbeat when officers arrived, but he revived while on a gurney and is now in intensive care at UC Davis Medical Center. The entire park shut down early because of the fight. (Read more California stories.)

