An N.C. man's death is being investigated as a possible drowning in Surf City early Wednesday morning.

Raymond O’Bryant Whitfield of Rose Hill died after being pulled from the ocean, despite lifesaving efforts performed by first responders and bystanders.

The Surf City Fire Department arrived at the scene about 6 a.m. near the 200 block of North Shore Drive, near the popular Surf City Ocean Pier. 

“When Ocean Rescue personnel arrived on the scene, they found bystanders attending to a victim in the water,” Fire Chief Allen Wilson said in a news release.

Beach bystanders did CPR on the victim, and Pender County EMS and Fire also tried to save Whitfield, but he did not survive, according to officials. 

Surf City police say they have an active death investigation open and have deemed the incident a "probable accidental drowning."