A man died Sunday after he jumped into the ocean near San Diego's iconic Sunset Cliffs, San Diego Lifeguards confirmed.
The incident happened at approximately 1 p.m. Sunday near Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and Monaco Street.
The man, fishing off the reef, decided to cool off by jumping in the water, San Diego Lifeguards said.
Lt. John Sandmeyer said the man entered the water at a dangerous and unusual place. Witnesses say they saw him struggling almost immediately.
During the struggle, the victim struck his head against the reef.
Two people jumped in and tried to save him, lifeguards said. Another man tried to keep the victim afloat.
A bystander stayed with the victim until lifeguards reached him.
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Officials performed CPR once they pulled him out of the water, but the victim died.
"It was fortunate that these bystanders tried to help him...so he had a fighting chance," Sandmeyer said. "Unfortunately he was underwater for too long."
The man's identity has not been released.
No other information was immediately available.
