St. Petersburg, Fla. (970 WFLA)- A 28 year old Tampa man drowned last night trying to swim back to shore with his girlfriend near the Gandy Bridge in un-incorporated St. Petersburg.
The Pinellas Sheriffs Office says Cruz Sales-Lopez and 33 year Erika Ambrosio of Tampa were in the water, on the northwest side of the bridge when Sales-Lopez began having difficulty.
Ambrosio told deputies, Sales-Lopez shouted for help before disappearing underwater. She tried, but couldn't' find him, and swam back to shore and called 911.
After a 40 minute search, medics from Tampa Fire Rescue found Sales-Lopez unresponsive. He was taken to Tampa General where he later died.