A Cape Coral man who was rescued off Boca Grande Pass Tuesday was listed in critical condition at a Tampa hospital after several people, including a retired nurse, pulled him from the water and performed life-saving techniques on him.
Bruce P. Willis, who will be 67 on June 14 and is of 212 N.W. 22nd Place, was swimming in the area of 138 Gulf Blvd., Boca Grande, when he began showing signs of distress, according to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report.
Witnesses told deputies they they tried to tell him to swim parallel to the beach to avoid rip currents when he went under. Several witnesses then entered the water, retrieved Willis and pulled him ashore. Someone called 911 and other witnesses began life-saving techniques.
Several medical personnel arrived and took over, eventually gaining a slight pulse on Willis, according to the report. He was taken to Englewood Hospital then transferred to Fawcett Memorial Hospital.
One of the witnesses is listed as Lois Willis, of the same address but it was not clear how she is related to him.
Other witnesses include a day trader, Duncan A. Lutton, 37, of Delray Beach; Lisa Suhr Lutton, 47, a vice president of human resources for Sun Capital Advisors, who also lists a Delray Beach address; Caroline R. Clark, 48, a retired registered nurse who lives in Boca Grande; Susan J. Clark, a doctorate student at the University of Hawaii who lives in Honolulu; and Mary B. Rounkles, 34, a homemaker and Brian D. Rounkles, 35, a computer technician for Americas First Credit Union, both of Riverdale, Utah.