NEWS

Volusia beach officials report Tennessee man rescued from ocean dies in hospital

Patricio G. Balona
patricio.balona@news-jrnl.com
Rescuers work on a man pulled out of the water in an unguarded area Sunday afternoon near Maverick Resort in Ormond Beach. [Jean Jenner]

A Tennessee man pulled from the ocean in Ormond Beach on Sunday afternoon died at the hospital, said officials with Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue.

A little after 2 p.m. the 43-year-old, whose identity was not immediately released, went into the ocean in an unguarded area near Maverick Resort in Ormond Beach, said Ocean Rescue Capt. Tamara Malphurs.

[READ MORE: Man drowns near Daytona Boardwalk]

[READ MORE: Authorities say Daytona Beach man pulled from ocean died at hospital]

[READ MORE: Beach drownings: Deadly currents stalk swimmers]

The man was in the water with several other people when everyone got caught in a rip current, Malphurs said.

Ocean Rescue officials responded to the scene after receiving a 9-1-1 call. Lifeguards were able to bring everyone safely to shore and started CPR on the man, Malphurs.

Malphurs said he was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Rip currents have been very active in rough surf Sunday and dispatchers were getting drowning calls from Ormond Beach south to New Smyrna Beach, authorities said.

Lifeguards rescued 95 people from the surf on Sunday, bringing the weekend total to 147 and still counting, Ocean Rescue Deputy Chief Aaron Jenkins said.

"The story of the weekend were strong rip currents and we expect this to continue for the coming days,:" Jenkins said.

Jenkins said lifeguards worked three other near-drowning incidents involving exhausted bathers, two of whom were transported to the hospital for further medical treatment.

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