Authorities ID Sun Valley Man Who Drowned At Zuma Beach

MALIBU (CBSLA.com) — Authorities identified a man Monday who drowned at Zuma Beach when he became caught in a riptide in high surf and slipped under the waves.

The victim was identified as Jose Garcia, 28, of Sun Valley, coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter said.

Garcia reportedly slipped under the waves around 3:45 p.m. and didn't resurface.

A lifeguard reportedly saw Garcia going under but lost sight of him after entering the water, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Garcia was swimming near Tower 9 when he got caught up in a riptide, authorities said.

The swimmer was pronounced dead around 5:15 p.m., according to a watch sergeant at the sheriff's Malibu-Lost Hills Station.

As of 5:40 p.m. Sunday, lifeguards said they rescued 78 people at Zuma.

Witnesses told KCAL9's Brittney Hopper they watched frantically during the rescue attempt of the 29-year-old.

"As I was swimming, I saw the lifeguards were pulling everybody out of the water and screaming. And blowing their whistles," said Daniel Haritoonian.

Officials said the man who drowned apparently went to the beach by himself.

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