Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau

Lino Gomez (Deceased)
DOB: 03/24/1995
Address: 13615 North 19^th Street, Tampa

Angela Perez (Uninjured)
DOB: 07/07/1997
Address: 13615 North 19^th Street, Tampa

Melissa Shaffer (Good Samaritan)
Age: 37 

What:
Deputies investigate the drowning of a Tampa man on Gandy Beach in St. Petersburg. Deputies say the incident appears to be accidental in nature.

When:
The incident occurred at about 4:13 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2018.

Where:
The incident occurred on Gandy Beach in unincorporated St. Petersburg.

Why/How:
Deputies investigate the drowning of a Tampa man on Gandy Beach in St. Petersburg.

According to deputies, 23-year-old Lino Gomez and his wife 20-year-old Angela Perez, 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 being swept out with the current.

Perez made it back to shore safely and flagged down a passing boater who helped search for Gomez.

The good Samaritan boater found Gomez floating face down in the water unresponsive. The boater brought Gomez back to shore when a second good Samaritan, 37-year-old Melissa Shaffer, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until paramedics arrived.

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

Gomez was pronounced deceased at about 2:10 a.m. on Sunday, April 29, 2018.

Neither Gomez nor Perez knew how to swim.

Deputies say the incident appears to be accidental in nature.

The investigation continues.