Swimmer Dies Following Rescue At Venice Beach

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County authorities say a 49-year-old man died after he and two other swimmers were rescued from the ocean off Venice Beach.

County Fire spokeswoman Lidia Barillas says lifeguards responded Sunday evening to reports of three swimmers in distress about 50 yards off shore near Venice Pier.

Barillas says rescuers found all three conscious and breathing. But she says as the lifeguards started bringing them back to shore, one of the swimmers lost consciousness.

He was later identified as Troy Mendez, of Westminster, Colo. He died at a hospital, and an autopsy is pending, coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter said.

Officials didn't know how long the swimmers were in the hospital.

The surf at the time was about 1 to 2 feet, Barillas said.

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