1 Swimmer Dead, 1 Hospitalized After Clearwater Beach Accident

A swimming accident at Clearwater Beach early Friday evening, June 13, has left one 20-year-man from Georgia dead and other injured.

The incident unfolded in the waters off Clearwater Beach near Idlewild Street, according to an email to media from city’s public safety office. Both Clearwater Police and Fire & Rescue responded to the call about distressed swimmers that came in around 6:11 p.m.  

Officer Christian Zarra was on routine patrol in the area when he was flagged down and told about the swimmers having trouble. Zarra was able to pull 41-year-old Donald Larry Duncan from the water, and was assisted in on-scene treatment by Dr. Francois St. Maurice, a 60-year-old cardiologist from Montreal, Canada, who happened to be at the beach, a city email stated. 

Michael Foster of Livonia, Mich., helped the fire department locate the body of Ryan Terry, 20, the city reported.

Terry and Duncan worked together in Georgia and were vacationing here, city officials said. Duncan was taken to Morton Plant Hospital for treatment following the incident. 

The exact cause of the accident wasn't stated, but city officials say the Gulf waters were rough at the time the drowning occurred. 

Officials also warned people to be cautious about where they choose to swim.

"Swimmers are encouraged to swim only in areas where the beach is staffed with lifeguards," the city's email said. "Lifeguards can help keep an eye on swimmers and also can apprise them of potentially dangerous water conditions."

This story was updated June 13 at 10:35 p.m. to include more information released by the City of Clearwater.