7:12am
A 49-year-old man died after being rescued in the waters off Venice Beach yesterday. Lifeguards responded about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday to reports of three distressed swimmers north of Venice Pier.
Los Angeles County Fire Department spokeswoman Lidia Barillas said rescuers found all three swimmers conscious and breathing, about 50 yards offshore. However, one lost consciousness as lifeguards began bringing the trio back towards the shore Barillas said.
Lifeguards began CPR on the beach, Barillas said. With emergency responders continuing CPR as the man was en route to a hospital. According to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the man was later pronounced dead at the hospital. An autopsy is pending.
The surf at the time of the rescue was about 1 to 2 feet, Barillas said.
Stewart said officials did not know how long the swimmers had been in the water before their rescue.
The man’s name has not yet been released, pending family notification, said coroner’s Lt. Larry Dietz.
