Rescued man dies in hospital

In what lifeguard officials are calling a heartbreaking conclusion to the summer beach season, an unconscious Huntington Beach man lifeguards pulled from the water Monday afternoon died only hours later in the hospital, authorities said Tuesday.

Charles Jasmine, 52, was spotted by lifeguards about 25 yards offshore near B Street hanging onto a buoy at about 3:30 p.m. Monday.

When they swam out to rescue him, they found he had lost consciousness and pulled him onto the shore, Newport Beach Fire Department officials said.

Jasmine was not breathing and lifeguards performed CPR with him on the sand until paramedics arrived and rushed him to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, officials said. He died hours later.

Lifeguard officials said Jasmine was hanging on a buoy offshore and never appeared to fully submerge into the water. County coroners continued to investigate Jasmine’s cause of death Tuesday.

The death was the second in Newport Beach’s waters this year. In March, 17-year-old Victor Wang of Claremont drowned near Newport Pier when a rip tide pulled him out to sea.

Through Tuesday this week, lifeguards have noticed a drop-off in beach visitors, likely because many students have returned to school and athletes are in summer practices, Turner said.

This Labor Day weekend will be the last weekend of the season the beaches are fully staffed with lifeguards, officials said.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].