Pair believed swept off jetty are ID’d

After two days of searching, police think they have identified the two people who were swept into the Pacific on Tuesday off a rocky jetty in Corona del Mar.

Sean Shungfei Yeh, 53, of Fremont and Yi Ni Kwong, 49, of Irvine are presumed drowned, though no bodies have been found, Newport Beach Police Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

Police said they found a 2000 Toyota Camry that was registered to Kwong in a beach parking lot.

The relationship between Yeh and Kwong was unclear, but their families have confirmed that they are missing, Sailor said. Records showed that Kwong had once owned a hotel gift shop in Irvine.

“We’re fairly positive it was them,” Sailor said. He said it was possible they still might be alive. The search for bodies will continue, Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino said.

The man and woman, who had been seen fishing from the jetty, were reported to have been swept into the choppy, 60-degree water near the entrance of Newport Harbor.

“It was really spooky,” said Ross Garrett, who was surfing nearby. “I watched the guy walk out during a lull and thought to myself: ‘This guy’s gonna get swept off the jetty.’ ”

Authorities later found belongings such as a hat, shoes and cooler.

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