The community of Coronado in San Diego is reeling after Stan Searfus, a 56-year-old father and surf coach at Coronado High School and Middle School, was confirmed to have died early Friday morning while surfing.

According to Fox 5, a friend reported Searfus missing in the pre-dawn hours on Friday after paddling out together at Sunset Cliffs. Rescue crews found him unconscious and not breathing around 6:49 am. Searfus was rushed to lifeguard headquarters in Mission Bay, and emergency responders performed CPR for 30 minutes to no avail.

Searfus’ friend told emergency responders Searfus took off on a wave while the two were surfing in the dark, but never reappeared, reports Fox 5. The friend found Searfus’ board but there was no trace of him. Searfus’ exact cause of death is still under investigation.

A GoFundMe page set up by friends of the victim explain that Searfus was a vibrant member of the Coronado community.

“Stan lived with his family in Coronado, CA where he was a devoted and active member of the commmunity where he was a Lifeguard, Coronado High School and Middle School Surf Coach and founder of Blue Wave Coronado Surf Camp,” explains the page. “He was passionate about the youth in his community and would lend a hand to anyone who needed. His selflessness and joy for life was absolutely tangible by anyone who was in his presence. After meeting him just once, he would call you his friend.”

Searfus leaves behind his wife, Jan, and his six children, and a fundraising page has been set up to support the family financially in Stan’s absence.