Man drowns at the Oceanfront

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A man visiting Virginia Beach drowned at the Oceanfront Saturday afternoon, according to Virginia Beach Police.

Virginia Beach police spokeswoman Tonya Borman said lifeguards pulled a man in his 40s from the water around 3:15 p.m. at 16th Street and began lifesaving efforts. Medics took him to a local hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

Tourist Greg Moore says he saw the male victim and another man floating down the shore. He says lifeguards were running toward the water from every direction, and eventually pulled the drowned swimmer to shore.

"You knew it was bad from the get go, because the man wasn't moving, wasn't doing anything," said Moore.

Other witnesses watched as the lifeguards tried to resuscitate him. EMS officials say the man was in cardiac arrest.

"Everybody was just in shock, because we didn't expect it to happen," said Danielle Christian, who was visiting the beach from Richmond. "That just ruined the whole day right there."

Christian says the man's family, and specifically his daughter, came running down the beach to see him.

"She said 'My dad! Oh my God! My dad!'" said Christian.

Moore says he feels the woman's pain, knowing she lost her father just before Father's Day.

"I lost my father last year on Father's Day," said Moore. "So I know how difficult that is."

Virginia Beach detectives continue to investigate the drowning, Borman said. Police have not released the victim's identity.

Lifeguards had red flags flying in the resort area due to dangerous water conditions. Virginia Beach EMS says it is not clear if rip currents contributed to the drowning. They have not ruled out a medical emergency.

This was the first drowning at Virginia Beach this year.

Stay with WAVY News 10 and WAVY.com for updates on this developing story.