Man Missing After Jumping From Pier

Lifeguards searched in vain Sunday for a 29-year-old Manhattan Beach man who was presumed dead after he and his roommate jumped from the city pier.

The two men, who had apparently been drinking, jumped into the ocean near the end of the long pier and were pulled out to sea by a strong current. Lifeguards and police were called to the scene after witnesses heard one of the men yelling for help about 1:15 a.m. Sunday.

“It was a pretty good size surf and rough conditions,” said Lt. Robert McGowan, a Los Angeles County lifeguard. “If you have had a few drinks and aren’t that well oriented to begin with, it is considerably more difficult.”

Lifeguards pulled the man’s roommate to safety. But because of the strong currents, they were unable to hang onto the victim, who was in full cardiac arrest, and carry him to shore.

Assisted by a helicopter and two boats, lifeguards spent hours Sunday looking for the body of the man, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives.