Man Presumed Drowned in Surf
LAGUNA BEACH — A man hit by a large wave while swimming with friends was reported missing and presumed drowned Sunday evening after lifeguards and police searched in vain for nearly two hours, authorities reported.
Officer Jon Fehlman, a police spokesman, said a 21-year-old man became lost in the surf about 6:30 p.m. at Picnic Beach off the 500 block of Cliff Drive, north of Heisler Park.
Fehlman said the man was swimming with two friends about 50 yards from the beach when the group was hit by a large wave, forcing everyone underwater. Only two people were able to make it back to the surface, witnesses told police.
The name of the missing man was not released Sunday because authorities had not reached his next of kin, Fehlman said.
Lifeguards searched the waters and police combed the beach for almost two hours without locating the man. Fehlman said searchers in the water were hampered by 2-foot visibility.
High surf was again reported at many Orange County beaches Sunday and lifeguards were busier than usual rescuing swimmers.
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