Paddle Board Tragedy As Man Drowns In Huntington Beach

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — A Lakewood man paddleboarding without a floatation device off Huntington Harbor died Tuesday according to the Huntington Beach Fire Department.

The 26-year-old man identified as Lakewood resident Jose Mendoza did not know how to swim.

Mendoza fell off the standup paddleboard about 3:30 p.m. near the 16500 block of Channel Lane, according to Huntington Beach Fire Department Capt. Steve Teasdale.

Rescuers contending with murky water conditions found Mendoza 25 minutes after arriving on the scene and pulled him from the harbor.

"Fire Department and life guard units responded and conducted a search for the victim in the water. Rescuers were challenged with murky water conditions, a muddy ocean bottom and zero visibility under the water," Teasdale said.

Mendoza was taken to a hospital in critical condition, Teasdale said, but was pronounced dead at just after 5 p.m., according to the Orange County coroner's office.

Huntington Beach Fire Department Photos