A man who tried to help rescue a family in distress off the dog beach at Honeymoon Island drowned Sunday.
Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson Jennifer Diaz confirmed that the man, who has not been identified, died after his rescue attempt.
Allen Jones, another man who tried to help, said the crisis began when a husband, wife and two children went out too far and the current took them out further.
"All of a sudden, they were in water over their heads, and I don't think they were confident swimmers," Jones said. "So they started putting their hands over their heads and screaming and making some commotion."
Jones said two men entered the water and swam out to help the family. As they were attempting their rescue, a boater and a person on a personal watercraft pulled the family from the water.
But Jones said that when he arrived on the scene, one of the men who began the rescue was "face-down in the water."
"Then we got him in, and a nurse and a PA (physician's assistant) started compressions immediately," Jones said.
Diaz said the man was transported to Mease Dunedin Hospital, where he died.
Signs warn swimmers about the rip currents off Honeymoon Island, and authorities said there have been other rescues recently.
Authorities are still investigating.