Man dies after rescue near no-swimming zone in Galveston

A man from Oregon died early Sunday morning after being rescued from the water near a no-swimming zone at Galveston Beach.

It happened Saturday evening, just before 4:30 p.m., near Tower 39.

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According to the Galveston Island Beach Patrol, one of their units noticed a swimmer struggling in an area marked off-limits for swimming on the west side of the tower.

A supervisor immediately swam out to help, but by the time they reached the man, he was unresponsive and not breathing.

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Lifeguards began CPR as soon as they got him back to shore. The Galveston Fire Department and EMS arrived quickly and took over care, transporting the man to UTMB. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away in the ICU at 1:37 a.m. on Sunday.

The man was 49 years old. His name has not been released.

Officials say this is the first beachfront drowning of the year in Galveston.