A 19-year-old St. Paul man drowned shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday in the St. Croix River in Hudson, Wis., authorities said.

Hudson Police Chief Marty Jensen said the victim and a buddy, an 18-year-old Maplewood man, were with five or six others at a beach on Dike Road, where an old toll bridge road that connected Minnesota and Wisconsin once stood.

The two friends swam to an island and were swimming back when the 19-year-old began having trouble and went under. The 18-year-old tried to help him but went under, too.

The 18-year-old was unconscious and not breathing when he was pulled from the water by his companions. Bystanders were able to revive him, Jensen said. He is going to be OK, the chief said.

The body of the 19-year-old was located by sonar and pulled from the river about an hour later. The St. Croix County medical examiner's office will do an autopsy.

Jensen said the current can be strong in that area.