San Diego

San Diego lifeguards Monday recovered the body of a Clairemont area man who drowned when a huge wave swept him out to sea from the cliffs near the Ocean Beach pier Sunday morning.

The County Coroner’s office identified the victim as James R. Haines, 21, who was swept out to sea at 2:40 a.m. Sunday. Lifeguard Chris Brewster said the body was discovered at 1:10 p.m. under the pier by people walking on the beach. Haines; his brother, Thomas, and a friend, Mark Ellison, were at the pier when a ferocious storm raised giant waves that slammed the Southern California coastline. Thomas Haines and Ellison ran for help when James Haines was washed out to sea, but responding lifeguards and San Diego police officers were unable to rescue him.