Search Called Off For Missing Swimmer Off Orange County Coast
The man was last seen at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday swimming at Salt Creek Beach, officials say.
Ted Chen
The search for a 34-year-old man who the Orange County Sheriff's Department has identified as Frank Daniel Austin was called off Monday afternoon. He was last seen in the waters at Dana Point Beach the afternoon before, officials said. Ted Chen reports from Dana Point for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Sept. 3, 2012.
Rescue efforts were called off Monday afternoon when officials stopped searching for 34-year-old Frank Daniel Austin, of Roland Heights, who was last seen in the waters off Dana Point the afternoon before, officials said.
The search resumed early Monday morning but was called off around 3 p.m. No body was found.
Austin was last seen swimming at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Salt Creek Beach. He was wearing a grey shirt, board shorts and swim finds, officials said.
Three hours after Austin waded into the waters, which were under a high-surf advisory at the time, lifeguards were called out to search for him.
On Sunday, three U.S. Coast Guard Choppers and an OC Sheriff’s Department boat scoured the ocean until nightfall looking for the man believed to be visiting the area from out of town.
He went missing at a time when forecasters say rip currents were extremely dangerous.
A high risk of strong rip currents was expected to continue through late Monday in Dana Point, where sets are expected to range between 2 and 5 feet, which 7-feet swells possible along south-facing beaches.
A storm system off the coast of Baja California brought high-surf advisories and warnings of strong rip currents during the holiday weekend. And while the storm is weakening, lifeguards are reminding beachgoers to stay out of the water if they feel insecure.
If a swimmer gets caught in a rip current, they should swim parallel to shore, not against the current, which can exhaust even a strong swimmer quickly, officials said. Once they are away from the force of the rip current, then they can swim back to the beach.
Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: iPhone/iPad App | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram | RSS | Text Alerts | Email Alerts
Covering the Springs Firefight With an iPhone
