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One Man Dies After Swimming To Shore When Boat Sinks In The Gulf

PALM HARBOR (CBSMiami/AP) – A sinking boat prompted two men to swim to shore to save their lives, but one later lost his battle to live.

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies said Stephen Chadwick of Tarpon Springs and Joseph Citro of Indianapolis boarded a boat and headed out to meet friends at an island in the Gulf of Mexico.

Deputies said the boat began taking on water less around 2:00a.m. Sunday, about an hour into the trip and sank.

The men initially held on to the hull but eventually decided to swim to shore. Chadwick wore a life vest and Citro used a backpack to stay afloat.

Investigators say Chadwick lost consciousness around 7 p.m. as they approached the shore off Clearwater. Citro pulled him onto land and performed CPR. A nearby resident called 911.

Both men were taken to the hospital. Investigators say Chadwick died Monday from his injuries.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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