19-year-old drowns at Jacksonville Beach

Georgia man pulled away from shore by rip current

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A 19-year-old man drowned Saturday at Jacksonville Beach after he was pulled away from shore by a rip current while swimming in chest-deep water with friends, authorities said.

The Jacksonville Beach Police Department identified him as Tyler Smith of Valdosta, Georgia.

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Lifeguards were flagged down just after 5 p.m. by a friend who had been swimming with Smith. 

Police and fire rescue crews were called to assist lifeguards in the search.

Smith was found about 15 minutes later, pulled from the water and taken to Baptist Medical Center Beaches, where he was pronounced dead, police said.