Body of Teen Drowning Victim Found

The body of Brandon Paul Bandas, who fell from the Huntington Beach Pier almost two weeks ago, was pulled Sunday from the waters off Newport Beach, authorities said.

A lifeguard brought the 19-year-old’s body to shore at 10:50 a.m. after it was spotted in the surf at G Street, said Orange County Deputy Coroner Pat Lorey.

On Sunday, several friends who attended Arcadia High School with Bandas huddled in a large circle and wept as they remembered him. Some of them had been going to the pier every day in hopes of finding his body.

Others, like Tammy An, a student at Brigham Young University, returned from out of state when they heard about Bandas.

“He was tough-looking, but he was a sweetheart,” said An, 18, as she showed a picture of Bandas wearing a black leather jacket.

Buck Darnold, 18, of Arcadia cut short a visit to Arkansas and came back.

“He was better than a best friend. He was more like a brother,” Darnold said.

On April 9, Bandas was presumed to have drowned after he fell off the pier while leaning over the railing.

Several witnesses saw the Toluca Lake youth struggling and yelling for help in the cold water, but they were unable to help. Lifeguards had gone home for the day.

Bandas’ death moved officials to consider installing ring toss flotation devices along the pier to help prevent future drownings. On Tuesday, the Huntington Beach Marine Division provided Ruby’s Diner--which is at the end of the pier--with a buoy that can be thrown to potential drowning victims.

Veronica Bandas, an aunt of Brandon Paul Bandas, said she liked the idea of having flotation devices near the pier and recalled her nephew as a “big, strong kid” who had played varsity football, enjoyed Quentin Tarantino films and loved the beach. He also wrote short stories, plays and poetry, she said.

“He has notebooks and notebooks in his apartment,” said Veronica Bandas of Temple City. “He would write on anything that would stand still.”

Bandas fell from the pier one day after Nelson Nguyen, 17, of Riverside was pulled out to sea by a strong current while swimming with friends. His body has not been found.