Update: Diver in Distress off La Jolla Shores Hospitalized in Critical Condition

Update: City News Service is reporting that the diver died at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. His name will be released pending notification of next of kin.

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A scuba diver was brought unconscious to the beach at La Jolla Shores Saturday afternoon, and lifeguards performed CPR on the stricken diver before he was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to a lifeguard official.

The scuba diver, identified only as a male in his 40s, was diving with a buddy in shallow water when he came to the surface about 20 minutes into the dive, said Lt. Nick Lerma.

The diver attempted to come ashore at La Jolla Shores around 12:50 p.m. but ended up at the seawall along Spindrift Drive south of The Marine Room restaurant, Lerma said. His dive partner was unable to help him out of the area and other divers arrived to assist and signal lifeguards.

A personal rescue craft, a small boat and land vehicles were sent to the area and lifeguards arrived to find the diver unconscious, Lerma said. Lifeguards brought him to the beach and administered CPR until medics arrived and transported him to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

It was not determined how long the diver was unconscious or why he surfaced, Lerma said.