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An Ashland man died while swimming in the Pacific Ocean at Whaleshead Beach State Park on Oregon's south coast Saturday, according to a release from the Oregon State Police.{br class="hardreturn" /} Alexander Howell, 23, was swimming in the Pacific Ocean about 75 yards from shore with a friend, Alex Smith, age 22, from Medford, at about 2 p.m. when, according to witnesses, Howell indicated that he needed to go back to shore.{br class="hardreturn" /} Heavy surf and a strong rip current prevented the swimmers from making an easy return to shore, and the two got separated in the rough waters. Smith managed to get back to shore where two other friends were waiting but Howell was not able to get to shore and his friends were unable to initially find him.{br class="hardreturn" /} The group called 911 and searched the shoreline and found Howell unresponsive on the beach. The friends performed CPR until they were relieved by emergency responders.{br class="hardreturn" /} Howell was transported to Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach for advanced life support. He was declared deceased at the hospital.{br class="hardreturn" /} Howell attended Southern Oregon University in Ashland and was originally from Vista, Calif.{br class="hardreturn" /}