Tampa Man Drowns While Swimming Off Gandy Bridge

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – A Tampa man has drowned after swimming near the Gandy Bridge in unincorporated St. Petersburg.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, 28-year-old Cruz Sales-Lopez of 4218 Cayuga Street, Tampa, was swimming with his girlfriend, 33-year-old Erika Ambrosio, 6810 Thomas Circle, Tampa, on the northwest side of the Gandy Bridge shortly before 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 17.

According to deputies, Sales-Lopez and Ambrosio were headed back to shore when Sales-Lopez started having difficulty swimming. Ambrosio told deputies that Sales-Lopez yelled for help before disappearing under the water.

Ambrosio was unable to find Sales-Lopez and swam back to shore where she called 911.

Deputies from the marine and flight units responded to search for Sales-Lopez. Marine units from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Tampa Fire Rescue Department also responded to assist with the search.

After searching the area for about 40 minutes, paramedics from Tampa Fire Rescue found Sales-Lopez unresponsive in the water.

Sales-Lopez was transported to the Gandy Boat Ramp where an ambulance transported him to Tampa General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Sales-Lopez was pronounced dead at 8:50 p.m.

The investigation revealed that Sales-Lopez did not know how to swim.

Deputies say the drowning appears to be accidental.

Image via Pinellas Sheriff