Georgia man drowns off Clearwater Beach

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Authorities say a Gainesville man is dead following an apparent drowning off Clearwater Beach in Florida.

Clearwater officials say Ryan Terry, 20, was swimming about 30 yards from shore Friday evening when he went under.

Friends said they went into the water to go after Terry.

"All I did was just get him and put him in a fireman carry and just tried to keep his head above water and drag him to shore," said Christian Zarra of the Clearwater Police Department.

Terry's friend Donald Larry Duncan, 41, of Gainesville, said a rip current dragged the two men under the water. Duncan was found semi-conscious.

"They got pulled out to sea he said, him and his buddy, and his buddy wasn't able to fight it," Zarra said.

After responding to a 911 call, police used a personal watercraft to find Terry and bring him to shore. Rescuers attempted CPR, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Duncan was taken to a nearby hospital. His condition wasn't immediately available.

WSBTV