Coroner: Man Possibly Drowned in Newport Beach

Editor's note: The original version of this story was published at noon and reported the deceased swimmer as a female. Officials have confirmed information given during the 911 call identified the swimmer as a female, but say the victim was a male.

A man who was pulled out of the ocean in Newport Beach early today, later died at Hoag Hospital, officials reported.

The Orange County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Tony Castleman, 59, of Tucson, Arizona. Jennifer Schulz, fire department spokeswoman, says at about 8:33 a.m. Newport Beach lifeguards and firefighter paramedics responded to a distressed swimmer call in the area of 15th Street and Oceanfront, according to Jennifer Schulz, fire department spokeswoman. Castleman was pulled out of the water by two lifeguards and transported to Hoag Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:26 a.m.

Coroner's officials reported the cause of death as a possible drowning.

Beach Safety Tips:

• Swim near a lifeguard.  If none around, call 9-1-1 for assistance.

• Learn to swim.

• Never swim alone.

• Don't fight the current.

• Never swim while intoxicated.

• Leash your surfboard or bodyboard.

• Don't float where you can’t swim.

• Always wear lifejackets when boating.

• Protect your neck from spinal injuries.

• Don't dive headfirst into any unknown water.

• Don't dive toward the bottom into oncoming waves. 

• Don't stand with your back to the waves. 

• Don't jump or dive from a cliff, pier, jetty or bridge. 

• Avoid bodysurfing, bodyboarding or surfing straight "over the falls." Ride the shoulder. 

• In a wipeout land as flat as possible with your hands out in front of you.

Get more safety tips at www.newportbeachca.gov/beachsafety.