ROCKLEDGE, Fla., -- A routine boat ride Monday night ended in tragedy as a woman died after falling into the water and her husband, who tried to rescue her, was hospitalized in critical condition.

Rockledge residents Thomas A. Donnelly, 69, and his wife, Margaret, 69, were attempting to dock their 30-foot recreational boat at the Indian River dock near Orange Avenue and Rockledge Drive when she fell off, according to Rockledge Police Department spokesman Mike Cadore.

Thomas Donnelly jumped in, but soon he was overcome by choppy waters, strong winds and exhaustion, police told Local 6 News partner Florida Today.

Officers arrived on scene after receiving a 911 call from an unidentified person at 7:16 p.m. They saw Donnelly flailing in the water.

Several officers jumped into the water and dragged him onto shore. Police then performed CPR.

Donnelly was taken to Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge, where he was listed in critical condition. The couple's son, Thomas J. Donnelly, 44, arrived after his father was pulled from the water.

For the next 35 to 45 minutes, multiple agencies including Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard and Cocoa police, assisted by a Brevard County Sheriff's Office helicopter, searched for Margaret Donnelly.

She was found a little north of the Orange Avenue Indian River boat dock, near her unmoored boat, Cadore said.

Her cause of death was unclear, as officials declined to describe it as a drowning.

Fish and Wildlife Commission officials will continue investigating Tuesday.

"It happened close to shore. It's hard to say what caused it. We're looking at variables from drowning to blunt trauma to propeller," said FWC Officer Lenny Salberg. "If they were wearing a life jacket, it would probably have saved their lives. Seventy-five percent of boating fatalities are due to drowning."

The couple lived in Indian River Condominium, which overlooks the dock in a historic part of the city. Residents described the couple as experienced boaters.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.