One Dead in Diving Accident off Rancho Palos Verdes

A 20-year-old man drowned today while cave- diving in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The man was pulled from the water by rescue crews after being submerged for about 10 minutes, authorities said.

Crews responded about 2:10 p.m. to a call of two people in distress in the water off the 5300 block of Palos Verdes Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher.

Two swimmers were located, pulled aboard a county fire department boat and taken to Los Angeles Fire Department Station 110 at 2945 Miner St., city fire department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.

One of the swimmers, a 20-year-old man, had been submerged for 10 minutes and could not be revived. He was pronounced dead at the fire station, Stewart said.

The other swimmer sustained minor, unspecified injuries and was taken to a hospital, according to the county fire department.

--City News Service