San Diego

A San Diego man was swept away by a six-foot wave and presumed drowned at Sunset Cliffs while retrieving his fishing pole, officials said.

Hoa Ruy Nguyen, 30, was fishing with a friend on the rocks about 9 p.m. Monday when he dropped his pole into the ocean and decided to go after it, San Diego Lifeguard Service spokesman Chappy Mico said.

Apparently Nguyen stripped down to his shorts and jumped into the water, which was too deep for him to touch bottom. His companion saw him struggling and ran to call for help from a nearby house, Mico said.

The Harbor Patrol and police mounted a search using a Coast Guard helicopter, but no trace of the victim was found, and the search was called off about 10:30 p.m., Mico said. Authorities resumed the search Tuesday morning but failed to find the body.