Sheriff’s Diver Finds Body of Swimmer, 24

The body of a 24-year-old Thousand Oaks man was found 150 feet offshore from County Line Beach by a Ventura County Sheriff’s Department diver Monday afternoon, almost 24 hours after the victim was spotted by a friend who called for help, a sheriff’s deputy said.

Witnesses on the beach told authorities that Tomas Garcia, who was swimming alone, was last seen waving his arms for help about 50 yards offshore. By the time several surfers paddled over to help Garcia, he had slipped beneath the surface, Deputy Daniel Place said.

Garcia’s brother, Reuben, was on the beach Monday at 3:35 p.m. when his brother’s body was found in murky water during what was to have been divers’ final attempt to find him, Place said.

Surfers and rescue divers said there was a rip current Sunday afternoon and they believed it carried Garcia farther from shore.

A sheriff’s helicopter arrived at the scene at 4:40 p.m. Sunday, 10 minutes after Garcia was spotted by a friend who had called for help, Place said.

Most of the dozen sheriff’s divers and the helicopter pilot who had searched for Garcia until 8:30 p.m. Sunday resumed their search at 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Place described Garcia as appearing to have been in good physical shape and said his body was found 300 feet east of where he had been seen waving for help.