Man Drowns near Stearns Wharf

City firefighters and Harbor Patrol officers responded early Wednesday morning to a report of a possible drowning near Stearns Wharf at the Santa Barbara Harbor. Battalion Chief Michael de Ponce said he was dispatched at approximately 7:34 a.m. with two fire engines, one fire truck, and one battalion chief.

Harbor Patrol responded with one rescue boat and loaded a male in his mid- to late-30s from the water into their vessel. Firefighters met the Harbor Patrol at the boat launch ramp, where Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics performed CPR on the man. Paramedics pronounced the man dead on the scene within 10 to 15 minutes of his initial rescue by Harbor Patrol. Santa Barbara police have taken over the investigation.