Man drowns while on vacation

A Chicago man drowned Sunday while swimming in the East County.

A Manatee County Sheriff's Office report states Michael Lester, 38, was visiting the area with his girlfriend and couple was staying with the girlfriend's parents in University Park County Club. Part of the Braden River runs behind the home, and at about 11 a.m., July 24, Lester jumped off the boat dock and swam across the river — about 60 feet.

On his way back, however, Lester went under water and never resurfaced, the report states. 

Southern Manatee Fire Rescue attempted to located Lester without results. The sheriff's office dive team then was called to the scene and found Lester in about 20 feet of water near the area he went under.

He was pronounced dead on scene, the report states.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].