Good Samaritans and Pinellas deputies tried to save him, but he died later at a hospital.

PINELLAS COUNTY – A Clearwater man died Sunday (May 28) after he jumped off a pontoon boat into shallow Gulf waters, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Michael L Steller, 49, of Clearwater, died at Tampa General Hospital. Deputies said they believe alcohol was a factor in the incident.

Deputies were called to the waters on the north end of Three Rooker Island about 4:36 p.m. Sunday where a pontoon boat was anchored in about 4 feet of water. Deputies say Mr. Steller jumped off a pontoon boat and was discovered unresponsive in the water. Good Samaritans pulled Mr. Steller from the water and began life-saving measures.

When Deputies Ryan Dunning, 27, and Stephen G Kaselak, 47, arrived, they used an automatic external defibrillator to try saving Mr. Steller. They, along with an unknown doctor and nurse on the island, also performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Palm Harbor Fireboat 68 responded and the patient was originally taken to Florida Hospital North Pinellas.

For information about the Pinellas sheriff, go to pcsoweb.com.

Photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Pinellas Sheriff | Gulf Death | Michael L. Steller | Death | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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