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LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. () — A 41-year-old man who was pulled unconscious from the water in Laguna Beach has died, officials said Thursday.
According to Laguna Beach Marine Safety, lifeguards responded just after 4 p.m. Wednesday to the south end of Crescent Bay Cove.
Witnesses said two bodysurfers got into trouble in the water. Lifeguards and good Samaritans were seen pulling one man from the surf, but the other was unconscious when he was pulled from the surf line.
The victim had been bodysurfing and was in cardiac arrest after lifeguards carried him to shore, according to Marine Safety Capt. Dane Doran. Lifeguards and firefighters performed CPR before the surfer was transported to Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach, where he later died.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has identified the man who died as Justin Anand Shahani of Laguna Beach.
Eyewitness Eric Zueger was at the beach when the tragedy unfolded and recorded video of lifeguards rescuing one of the bodysurfers.
“They went in when the waves died down from the bigger waves to the smaller waves. When the waves start to billow you can’t see anything,” Zueger said. “It comes one wave, next wave, next wave. At that point, there’s no chance to get out of it.”
Doran said the death has deeply affected the victim’s family, the Laguna Beach community and the lifeguards who responded.
“Our beaches in Laguna are beautiful but they can be very, very dangerous,” Doran said. “Steps that people can take to stay safe are checking their local reports and talking to the lifeguard when they get to the beach. But again, aside from our safety message, our thoughts today and our focus is with the friends and family of yesterday’s victim.”
The incident comes as a Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect through Thursday night. Officials said surf of up to 7 feet and dangerous rip currents are expected along the coast, with another swell forecast for the weekend.
The death is at least the third fatal water-related incident reported in Laguna Beach this summer. In June, a 5-year-old girl was swept into the water. Earlier this month, another man died following an incident in the water at Crescent Bay.
Officials continue to urge beachgoers to monitor local conditions and speak with lifeguards before entering the ocean.
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