A 23-year-old Winnie man drowned while kayaking in Spindletop Bayou on Sunday night.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call of a kayaker in distress around 7:45 p.m. Aug. 14 where the man was reportedly against the saltwater barrier. A deputy saw the man wearing a life jacket floating away from the barrier. He removed his gear and jumped into the water and swam over to the kayaker and with the help of witnesses they got him to the bank, according to a press release from Deputy Marcus McLellan with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

The kayaker was not breathing and the deputy started CPR. By that time a game warden with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department arrived and assisted with CPR.

“Despite the heroic efforts of everyone involved the kayaker did not make it and was pronounced dead at the hospital,” McLellan said.

The Winnie man had been kayaking with friends at the time of the incident.