Search for Missing Swimmer Enters Second Day

Originally posted at 6:56 a.m. July 10, 2014. Edited with new details.

UPDATE at 9:10 a.m.: The city of Rancho Palos Verdes sends out this note: Palos Verdes Drive South is currently open in both directions, but traffic is slow due to the number of media and emergency personnel/ vehicles on site.

The public is advised to avoid the area and seek alternative travel routes.

Original post: 

A search resumed today for a young man who may have drowned in Abalone Cove, authorities said.

The search began about 6:30 a.m. and is being conducted by the sheriff's Emergency Services Bureau, said Lt. J. Anderson of the sheriff's Lomita station. She said today's search effort would focus on similar locations as Wednesday.

The 19-year-old from Long Beach jumped into the cove with friends to explore a cave Wednesday afternoon, then encountered difficulties, said Toogee Zepeda, one of the people who was in the water with the man. Zepeda said a friend threw the man a rope, but he was unable to grab it.

Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Jerry Duhovic said there had been 30 rescues at Abalone Cove since Sunday, with the possibility that the 19-year-old would be the second fatality.

"We're asking people to stay away," Duhovic said in an interview with NBC4. "We've had two tragedies in three days and we don't need any more."

Terry Yamamoto of the Los Angeles County Fire Department 's Lifeguard Section said social media and the cove's setting made it irresistible to young swimmers.

"They walk down this trail and they see kids jumping off the rocks and say, 'This is great fun, I'm going to do that,' " Yamamoto said in an interview with KCAL 9.

--City News Service