Lifeguards responded to a report on Wednesday morning after a surfer claimed to have spotted a body in the water near the Ocean Beach Pier. The surfer noticed what appeared to be a torso in the surf line around 7:30 a.m., prompting immediate action from city officials.
According to San Diego lifeguard Lt. Brian Clark, lifeguards quickly deployed to the area to initiate a search, assisted by the San Diego Fire-Rescue teams, paramedics, and local police. Initially, lifeguards set out on a rescue buoy and surfboard before calling in a boat for additional support. Several team members were stationed along the beach and the pier to get a clearer view of the situation. A helicopter was also dispatched to aid in the search.
After approximately an hour and 15 minutes of searching, the lifeguards called off their initial efforts, turning the investigation over to dive teams equipped with advanced sonar technology to scan the waters where the body was first reported. Lt. Clark emphasized the challenges posed by rough sea conditions: “The surf is three- to five-, occasional six-foot sets. So that’s really turbulent and it’s not necessarily the best diving conditions,” he explained, highlighting the potential for rip currents to have shifted the body underwater.
As the search continued, authorities confirmed that no missing person reports had been filed overnight. The incident follows the previous disappearance of 40-year-old Danny Marron from Yuma, Arizona, whose kayak was discovered washed ashore near Mission Beach after he went missing last week. While teams are investigating, there is no presumption that the body found on Wednesday is connected to Marron’s case.
Witnesses noted significant shifts in wave conditions on the day of the incident, making surfing difficult. One surfer, who identified himself as “Wolfie,” recounted the sudden increase in wave heights:
The surf was relatively small, maybe waist high, chest high, and then all of a sudden it was well overhead, double overhead.
This story is still developing story and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
