His 12-year-old grandson was not injured.

MADEIRA BEACH – A St. Petersburg man drowned Saturday (June 8) when he went into the Gulf of Mexico to help his grandson in the high surf, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Osman Pehlivanovic, 71, of St. Petersburg, was declared deceased at a hospital where he was taken after he lost consciousness. His grandson, 12, was not injured.

The incident happened about 12:39 p.m. at the Madeira Beach Access County Park, 14400 Gulf Blvd. in Madeira Beach.

Deputies said they were called to the Madeira Beach Access County Park after receiving a report of people yelling for help on the beach.

Upon arriving on-scene, deputies saw people Mr. Pehlivanovic out of the water. Deputies were told that Mr. Pehlivanovic entered the water to help his grandson in the high surf when he became unresponsive.

Sgt. Greg Horton, a Pinellas County deputy, and two residents, 53-year-old Denise McCoy and 36-year-old Soraya Savage, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Mr. Pehlivanovic until paramedics from the Madeira Beach Fire Department arrived to assume medical care.

Mr. Pehlivanovic was then taken to a local hospital.

Pinellas Sheriff | Drowning | Osman Pehlivanovic | Deaths | Tampabay News

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