A man apparently drowned after he jumped off the Ocean Beach Pier to retrieve personal belongings thrown into the water during an argument Friday night, authorities said.

The 27-year-old man and his girlfriend were involved in a dispute with two other people, who at some point threw the victim’s property into the ocean, police Lt. Andrew Hoffman told a freelance videographer.

The man jumped over the pier, presumably to recover the items, Hoffman said.

The incident was reported about 9:30 p.m.


For hour half an hour, lifeguards tried to locate and reach the man. Their rescue efforts were hampered by 8-foot waves and thick seaweed, said Monica Muñoz, spokeswoman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

A San Diego police helicopter crew provided lighting during the search and rescue.

Lifeguards eventually got the man onto a boat and started CPR on him. Medics then took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

It was not being investigated as a criminal matter, police said.


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