Police say man likely drowned off Treasure Island

TREASURE ISLAND - A St. Petersburg man appears to have drowned off Treasure Island beach Friday afternoon, police reported. Police said Thomas Michael Beisel, 53, had been swimming alone in the Gulf of Mexico trying to retrieve fishing equipment when his sister noticed he wasn't moving. The sister, Candice C. Engolia, pulled him from the water in the 11800 block of Treasure Island Beach. Other people in the area performed CPR until authorities arrived about 2:30 p.m, according to a news release from the Treasure Island Police Department. An ambulance took Beisel to Palms of Pasadena Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Family members said Beisel wasn't a strong swimmer, and authorities are investigating his death as an accidental drowning, the news release said.