Police in Cape May say a man from New York drowned while swimming in rough surf off the southern New Jersey coast.

According to police, James Lane, 67, of Binghamton, was found face down in the water Thursday around 3:30 p.m., about 50 yards from the beach.

Police say Lane was unconscious and not breathing.

City beaches have not been actively guarded since Sept. 8, but officials say members of the city's beach patrol, who happened to be in the area, learned what had happened and got Lane out of the water.

Lane was taken to a hospital, but was pronounced dead there a short time later.