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St. Pete man drowns while helping grandson in high surf, deputies investigating

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Deputies with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office are investigating a drowning that happened at Madeira Beach on Saturday.

Deputies say 71-year-old Osman Pehlivanovic, of St. Pete, drowned at Madeira Beach while helping his 12-year-old grandson in the high surf.

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Pehlivanovic became unresponsive after entering the water. He was pulled out by good Samaritans, the sheriff's office says.

Thirty-nine-year-old Sergeant Greg Horton, 53-year-old Denise McCoy and 36-year-old Soraya Savage performed CPR on Pehlivanovic until fire rescue officials arrived.

Pehlivanovic was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, deputies say. His grandson was uninjured.

The sheriff's office says the investigation is active, but it does not appear suspicious at this time.