A man in his 70s was fighting for his life Monday after getting into distress while in the water at Hanauma Bay.

Paramedics were dispatched to a report of a near-drowning about 3:30 p.m. and took the man to the hospital in extremely critical condition, an Emergency Medical Service supervisor said.

Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said beachgoers alerted lifeguards who pulled the man from the water. Seelig said firefighters helped lifeguards try to revive the man, a visitor from the mainland.