Man nearly drowns then dies at hospital

STATELINE - A 23-year-old from Richmond, Calif., who was revived after nearly drowning off the beach at Tahoe Meadows, a gated-community on Highway 50 west of Stateline, died at Washoe Medical Center Sunday night.

Ben Rice, in South Lake Tahoe visiting a friend whose family owns a cabin at Tahoe Meadows, was swimming Sunday afternoon for about five minutes before he got tired and went under. His 21-year-old friend, who also tired quickly because of high winds and choppy water, clung to a buoy for support and then swam to shore for help.

Police reported that Rice and his friend were not swimming far from shore.

People on the beach swam out and found Rice five minutes later in about five feet of water, police said.

Rescuers started CPR immediately and were able to revive the Rice's heart. He was careflighted to Washoe Medical Center Sunday afternoon and listed as critical and unstable.

Rice died Sunday at 7:40 p.m."He rapidly deteriorated," said Washoe County Deputy Coroner Steve Woods. "Washoe was doing everything they could, he just became unresponsive."

Police said the U.S. Coast Guard issued a small craft advisory Sunday afternoon and that several boats had flipped over on the lake because of conditions on the water.