Clearwater Man, 49, Dies After Jumping Off Pontoon Boat

CLEARWATER, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has announced the death of a 49-year-old Clearwater man its deputies helped rescue following an accident off Three Rooker Island on Sunday.

According to the agency, Michael Steller was on board a 23-foot pontoon boat that was anchored on the north end of Three Rooker Island in approximately 4 feet of water around 4:36 p.m. May 28. Deputies say Steller jumped off the boat and was found unresponsive in the water.

The good Samaritans who spotted Steller pulled him from the water and began life-saving measures, an email from the sheriff’s office said. Deputies arrived and worked with an unidentified doctor and nurse who happened to be on the island to take over life-saving efforts.

Steller was taken from the scene by Palm Harbor Fire Rescue and transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries Sunday afternoon. The sheriff’s office announced his Sunday night death on Monday morning.

The death remains under investigation, but authorities noted that “alcohol was a factor in this incident.”

Further information is not available at this time.

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