A man died after he was found unresponsive in the water hours after being reported missing near the Oceanside Pier early Saturday morning, authorities said.
According to the Oceanside Fire Department, a witness reported seeing a man in the ocean shortly after 4 a.m. near the pier and summoned help. Around 4:30 a.m., lifeguards and police launched a coordinated search, scanning from the pier, reviewing surveillance cameras and deploying watercraft.
After about an hour, the search was called off because crews were unable to locate the man.
At around 10:50 a.m., lifeguards found an unresponsive man in the water near Lifeguard Tower 12 at Oceanside Harbor Beach. The man matched the description of the person reported missing earlier in the morning.
Lifeguards pulled him from the water and began CPR. Paramedics with the Oceanside Fire Department transported him to Tri-City Medical Center while continuing life-saving efforts, but he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities have not released the man’s identity.
The Oceanside Lifeguard Division urged the public to use caution when entering the ocean, particularly when lifeguards are not on duty, and to avoid swimming alone.