Tampa Man Drowns After Caught In Current On Gandy Beach

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the drowning of a Tampa man on Gandy Beach.

Deputies say around 4:13 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 23-year-old Lino Gomez and his wife, 20-year-old Angela Perez, of 13615 N. 19th St., Tampa, were in the water on an inflatable float just south of Gandy Beach in unincorporated St. Petersburg.

Deputies say the tidal current pushed Gomez and Perez's float into a deep channel that paralleled the beach. As they were trying to paddle back to the beach, Gomez fell off the float into the water. Perez tried to help Gomez back onto the float but she also fell into the water.

Deputies say Perez was able to grab onto the float but she lost sight of Gomez who was swept out with the current. Perez made it back to shore safely and flagged down a passing boater who helped search for Gomez.

The boater found Gomez floating face down in the water unresponsive. The boater brought Gomez back to shore where bystander, 37-year-old Melissa Shaffer of St. Petersburg, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived.

Paramedics transported Gomez to Tampa General Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Gomez was pronounced deceased at about 2:10 a.m. on Sunday, April 29.

Neither Gomez nor Perez knew how to swim.

Deputies say the drowning appears to be accidental.

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