ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An off-duty paramedic stumbled upon a 23-year-old man this evening floating near a personal watercraft, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.
Michael Conde, 23, was found unconscious about one mile north of Anclote Key at roughly 6:25 p.m., said Petty Officer 1st Class Mariana O’Leary. He was later pronounced dead at Helen Ellis Hospital in Tarpon Springs, she said.
The paramedic, who happened to be in the area on a personal watercraft when he spotted Conde, began giving CPR to Conde while the Coast Guard dispatched a boat and helicopter, O’Leary said. A rescue swimmer was lowered from the helicopter and helped load Conde to the boat, which then took him to a boat ramp where emergency medical personnel were waiting.
At the time he reached the boat ramp, he still had a heartbeat, O’Leary said.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating.
Republished with permission from the Tampa Bay Online.