Man Dies in Apparent Drowning at Emerald Bay

A Cerritos man who was fishing along the south point of Emerald Bay near Laguna Beach died Monday, apparently from drowning.

Chung K. Lee, 51, was pulled from the water about 1:30 p.m. by a fishing companion and some others who were nearby and taken by Coast Guard helicopter to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

“We can’t rule out that he fell over from a heart attack, but right now we are calling it an apparent drowning,” said Deputy Coroner Cullen Ellingburgh.

Lee and a friend, 41-year-old Jin Koo of Yorba Linda, were fishing near the water’s edge, Ellingburgh said. Lee, who was in fishing waders, and his friend had been fishing for more than three hours and were apparently about to walk out into the surf to cast, the coroner’s official said.

“No one really saw what happened,” he said. “Mr. Koo bent over to bait a hook and the next thing he knew his friend was in the water thrashing about. Ellingburgh said the victim did not know how to swim, and added that it was not clear whether Lee had gone into the surf ahead of his friend and lost his footing because of strong waves.

Witnesses said Lee’s fishing waders filled with water, making it extremely difficult to drag him out of the surf.

The Coast Guard helicopter used in the rescue was based on Catalina Island and had responded to a call for help from Orange County Fire Department paramedics.

Ellingburgh said an autopsy would be conducted today to determine the cause of death.