A man believed to be 21 years old was pronounced dead Sunday night after being found at sea without a pulse, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department official.
The male reportedly was swimming in the ocean with friends near 8th Street when he was swept out in a rip current, said LACFD inspector Scott Miller. The male was then held down by a couple of waves as his friends attempted to come to his aid.
Lifeguards were notified of the situation around 5:07 p.m. and initiated a line search with more than 20 people participating, Miller said. It was during the line search the male was located about 20 to 30 feet beyond the point of where he originally "went down from." He could not say what time the patient was pulled from the ocean though someone on twitter said ti was sometime after 7 p.m.
The male patient, who had been "submerged for quite awhile," said Miller, was pronounced dead in the field after resuscitative measures failed. Miller said suspicious activity, drugs or alcohol did not appear to be involved.
The lifeguards were able to conduct the line search, called an "involved process" by Miller, because a recruit class happened to be nearby training. He said a line search begins by getting a general idea where someone was last seen. Line searchers then stand an arm's distance apart on the beach, continue out into the water until waist deep, then submerge themselves straight down and straight up as they work together as a team.
Miller called the search tactic "very, very thorough" and said the participants "operate completely as a team."
He said the coroner's office had been called to come to the scene. He did not know if the victim was indeed 21 nor did he know what city he is a resident of.
Hermosa Beach Patch will provide updated information as it becomes available.
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