A Cape Coral man who was rescued off Boca Grande Pass on May 31 died at a Tampa hospital after several people, including a retired nurse, pulled him from the water and performed life-saving techniques on him.

Brian P. Willis, who would have been 67 on June 14 and lived at 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.