Community Corner
UPDATE: Search Called Off for Missing Swimmer, Victim's Name Released
Authorities report the rescue effort that began Sunday night in Dana Point for Frank Daniel Austin, 34, ended Monday afternoon and is now considered a recovery.
At 2:45 p.m. Monday, authorities said they completed an "active search" for missing swimmer, Frank Daniel Austin, 34, of Rowland Heights, who disappeared from in Dana Point on Sunday afternoon.
Orange County Sheriff's Department Capt. Steve Doan, said: "The search has been officially called off and the man has not been located."
"It now becomes a recovery effort," Doan said. "The likelihood of finding him alive diminishes with every passing minute. It's very sad."
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Austin went swimming around 4 p.m. Sunday and was reported missing by his mother around 7:20 p.m., said Jason Young, chief of Orange County lifeguards Monday morning.
Young said on Monday afternoon after the rescue efforts were suspended the lifeguards have been busy all day and will "send out a diver when water conditions are a little better, and they will continue to assess the situation as it unfolds."
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Backtracking
On Sunday evening, Young said an interview was conducted and officials determined Austin was missing, and an actual search began at 7:35 p.m., he said.
"His mother said he is a good swimmer and he was headed out to take photos with an underwater camera," Young said earlier Monday.
Young added that the man was swimming in an area where lifeguards were posted, but there was a high surf advisory, and rough seas may have caused him to lose control while under water.
The search was carried out by land, air and sea until 11 p.m. Sunday, however officials came up with nothing, Young said.
"It was too dark to continue last night, so we called it off until early this morning," Young said.
The search resumed around 6:30 a.m. Monday and continued with about 20 O.C. lifeguards, O.C. Sheriff's deputies, Coast Guard officials, and other agencies assisting, Young said.
"The high surf we have been experiencing at Salt Creek is largely a result of a Southern Hemisphere ground swell that was generated by a South Pacific storm, Young said. "Athough Ileana did send some swell to SoCal which contributed to high surf, her swell was small in comparison to the S Hemi swell.
Salt Creek Beach remained crowded on Monday afternoon with people swimming, surfing, and celebrating the Labor Day holiday.
