Man, 32, Drowns off Corona del Mar
A Newport Beach man who police said was training for a triathlon drowned Tuesday while swimming in the ocean off Corona del Mar, authorities said.
The 32-year-old swimmer, who was not identified, was with two friends near Inspiration Point when he began to struggle about 7:15 p.m., Newport Beach Fire Department spokesman John Blauer said.
The trio apparently swam out to rope strung between buoys about 200 yards off shore. They were swimming back when the victim began having trouble. The other two swimmers apparently were unaware of the problem.
Four bystanders on a bluff saw the struggling swimmer, ran to the beach and swam out to help him, Blauer said. They found him face down in the water and towed him to shore.
He was taken to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, where he was pronounced dead, said Newport Beach Police Lt. Mike Jackson.
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