PORTLAND — A man swimming in the Fore River near the Casco Bay Bridge Friday afternoon was rescued by the Portland Fire Department, but later died at Maine Medical Center.

Just before 5:30 p.m., the South Portland Fire Department responded to the Thomas Knight Park dock, directly underneath the bridge, for a report that a man was in distress in the river, Lt. Robb Couture of the South Portland Fire Department said Saturday.

When firefighters arrived, two companions of the man were already out of the water, but the third swimmer was no longer visible, according to Couture.

The South Portland and Portland fireboats were launched, and Portland’s heavy rescue unit searched for the man from atop the Casco Bay Bridge before the Portland fire boat found him and transported him to the Maine State Pier in Portland.

He was taken to Maine Medical Center, where he later died, according to Nicole Clegg, spokeswoman for the city of Portland.

The man’s name was not released on Saturday.

Couture said the Thomas Knight Park is not a common swimming area, and is instead more frequently used by boaters.

He said he’s not sure what caused the incident, but noted, “Obviously there’s a current and tides moving through the river. It’s fairly strong, and when it goes, it goes.”