An Escondido man fell off the Oceanside Pier while trying to take a selfie, witnesses told police, plummeting dozens of feet into the waters below where he disappeared early Saturday.
Just after 3:30 a.m., a 20-year-old man identified as Paul Ventura, was hanging out with a group of friends at the pier when he tried standing on top of a railing, according to Sgt. Josh Morris Oceanside Harbor Police. He then lost his balance and fell into the ocean.
Oceanside Harbor Police quickly got to the scene and located Ventura struggling to stay afloat by clinging to a support beam, known as a pylon, under the pier.
As a rescue boat and rescue swimmer entered the ocean, Ventura apparently lost grip of the pylon and went underwater, police said.
Oceanside Lifeguards and the U.S Coast Guard aided crews in the continued search for Ventura.
At 9 a.m., the search and rescue mission was called off, Morris told NBC 7. Moving forward, crews have labeled any efforts as a recovery mission.
The 20-year-old’s body has yet to be located a week later. The family of Ventura will reunite Sunday, June 2 to continue the search.
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There is no criminal investigation at this time.
No other information was available.
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