A Brownsville man, who was either 69 or 70, drowned early Wednesday evening while crabbing off Highway 48, authorities said.

Guadalupe Garza was crab fishing near a boat ramp between the pilot channel of the Brownsville Ship Channel and the Bahia Grande when he probably slipped, Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio said. An unidentified woman he was with was unable to help him out of the water, Lucio said.

Three nearby men tried to help Garza, but were too late, Lucio said.

The drowning occurred around 6:30 p.m.