Surfer declared dead as waves pound California
A beach goer takes photos of surfers and body boarders as they ride the waves at the Wedge in Newport Beach
LOS ANGELES >> A surfer found off San Onofre State Beach in Southern California has been declared dead, as powerful waves continue to pound beaches across the state over the Labor Day weekend.
City News Service reports that Russ Yamada was found unresponsive in the ocean near his surfboard Saturday afternoon. The 42-year-old surfer from Torrance was taken to Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in San Clemente where he was declared dead.
The National Weather Service has extended high surf advisories through Sunday night, warning that 6-to8-foot waves with occasional 10-foot sets would hit the coast from San Francisco to San Diego. The surf has created dangerous swimming conditions over the holiday weekend.
The rough surf was caused by the swell from a powerful storm in New Zealand, where it is winter.
