Body of missing swimmer in Redondo Beach found

The body of a 21-year-old missing swimmer was recovered off the coast of Redondo Beach on Saturday, authorities said.

The man, who was identified by family as Marlon Fajardo of Lawndale, had disappeared about 4 a.m. while wading in chest-deep water with two to four friends near the Knob Hill lifeguard tower, authorities said.

Friends and family said that Fajardo was a weak swimmer. It is unclear why he was in the water or if alcohol was involved, authorities said.

It’s “certainly not the end that we were hoping for,” Fire Battalion Chief Rob Rappaport said at a news conference. “But we can have some closure as far as being able to recover the victim.”

Search crews spent more than six hours scouring the waters off the coastline, where the surf was higher than normal due to Hurricane Norbert. Fajardo’s body was found in 20 feet of water about 10 a.m.

Family members, who had gathered along the shore as divers, boats and helicopters combed the water, expressed grief but said it was a relief that his body was recovered.

“It’s not a happy ending, but at least it’s still good to know they found him,” said his grandmother Louise Bernardez of Lawndale. “I believed that he was gone. How long can you survive? Just a sharp minute.”

Bernardez said that Fajardo was “a happy young man and lovable.” He had recently enrolled in college classes, she said.

Authorities are investigating the cause of death.

Twitter: LATangelangel.jennings@latimes.com