St. Pete Beach, Fla. (970 WFLA) - A 34-year-old man from Port Charlotte drowned in the Gulf of Mexico off St. Pete Beach Sunday, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.
Witnesses told investigating deputies that they saw Bret Alexander Rule on the beach behind the Plaza Beach Motel last night, and that he appeared to be intoxicated. Sometime between 5:00 p.m and 6:30 p.m., Rule went into the water and did not return, according to a news release from PCSO.
A passerby found Rule unconscious and pulled him ashore behind the Plaza Beach Motel at 4506 Gulf Blvd.
St. Pete Beach Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene and life-saving measures were attempted.Rule was transported to Palms of Pasadena Hospital where he was pronounced dead.