Lobster diver found dead near Manhattan Beach Pier
A 45-year-old lobster diver was found dead Monday near Manhattan Beach Pier after he had gone missing almost 24 hours earlier.
Members from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department dive team found the lobster hunter’s body about 10:55 a.m. in an underwater pipe, according to authorities.
Jeff Tolly disappeared about 11 a.m. Sunday about three miles north of Manhattan Beach Pier, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Authorities said Tolly likely entered the pipe in search of the crustacean.
Spencer Parker, an ocean lifeguard specialist with Los Angeles County Fire Department, told KTLA-TV that it’s common for divers to wander into the narrow pipe to look for lobsters.
Tolly was last seen wearing his black diving suit with fins and a scuba tank.
The Coast Guard launched a helicopter and two 87-foot patrol boats from Channel Islands and Corona Del Mar.
For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
