A body that was found off the coast near Venice Beach, California, on the morning of May 20 has been confirmed as missing former WWE star Shad Gaspard.
The body was found by two passersby who lived in the area and was reportedly laying on the sand halfway between Venice Beach pier and lifeguard headquarters, an official with the Los Angeles Police Department said.
“The decedent was identified as Shad Gaspard and next of kin was notified,” according to an LAPD statement. The remains did not show any signs of foul play.
Gaspard disappeared off the coast near Venice Beach last Sunday while swimming with his 10-year-old son, and officials searched for him for many hours.
#PierIC at 2:19AM @lacolifeguards @LACOFD @LAPDHQ respond to #VenicePier to a report of a body along the shoreline that matches the description of Sunday’s missing swimmer. Crews on-scene extricate from the water and transfer to @lacountymec pic.twitter.com/b5xYmCOBkj
— LACoFD Lifeguards (@LACoLifeguards) May 20, 2020
Deputy Trina Schrader of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department told news outlets that Los Angeles County lifeguards and the U.S. Coast Guard have been engaged in the search for Gaspard, who they were unable to pull from the water after he showed signs of distress.
“We are going to put forth every effort available to us to locate the missing swimmer throughout the day and night,” Schrader said at the time.
Siliana Gaspard, the 39-year-old’s wife, wrote on Instagram the day her husband went missing, ABC7 reported. She posted two photos of Shad next to a child, saying he was seen last at Marina Del Rey beach when he disappeared.
A boy, who was not named, was pulled from the water on Sunday. He wasn’t hospitalized, the report said.
“That group was stuck in one of the rip currents and were swimming just north of the lifeguard tower,” said Pono Barnes, an ocean lifeguard specialist. “That’s why lifeguards were able to get there so soon, but unfortunately, one did, however, submerge.”
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Focus News: Body Found Off Coast in California Confirmed as WWE Superstar Shad Gaspard