A surfer found unresponsive at Topanga Beach was later pronounced dead on Thursday, Dec. 21. LA County Sheriff’s Department officials responded to a call of “a person screaming for help” at 10:49 p.m., per Deputy Morgan Arteaga.
The man has since been identified as 48-year-old Pacific Palisades resident Damon Michael Geller by the LA County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office spokesperson Sarah Ardalani.
Geller was with his brother—both were regular surfers and the victim “had been a pro surfer at one point,” as reported by CBS LA.
He was pronounced dead on the scene an hour later, at 11:39 p.m.
The specific cause of death is still unclear as of Friday afternoon, Dec. 21. Reporting from KTLA indicates he may have suffered from a medical episode, which led to the death.