A tragic incident occurred Thursday afternoon near the south jetty on Galveston’s East End when a 22-year-old Houston man drowned while fishing with friends. The man’s death marks the eighth drowning in Galveston this year and the second since October, according to officials.
The victim and two friends were fishing on the jetty rocks when two of them slipped into the water, Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis reported. While one man managed to climb back to safety, the other was caught in a rip current and went under.
Nearby anglers heard screams and called 911 around 3:40 p.m. Galveston Island Beach Patrol and Marine Rescue teams, led by Lt. Austin Kirwin, responded to the scene. By the time rescuers arrived, the man had been underwater for more than 10 minutes. He was pulled from the water unresponsive and brought to shore, where CPR was administered for about 10 minutes.
The victim was transported by ambulance to UTMB Health’s John Sealy Hospital, but he was pronounced dead about an hour later. The Galveston County Medical Examiner has not yet confirmed the official cause of death, and authorities are withholding the man’s name until his family is notified.
Chief Davis expressed concern over the increasing number of water-related fatalities, urging visitors to exercise caution when near the water, especially around jetties, where rip currents can form unexpectedly. This incident serves as a somber reminder of the dangers posed by the Gulf’s powerful waters.