Update: Los Angeles County Lifeguards have confirmed the identity of the body that washed up on Venice Beach as Shad Gaspard.
The confirmation was made at a news conference on-location moments ago. LA County Lifeguards were called to the scene early Wednesday morning to identify a body that washed up on the beach that matched his description. Gaspard was 39 years old at the time of his death; he is survived by his wife of 11 years, Siliana, and his 10-year-old son, Aryeh.
Footage from today's news conference where officials confirmed Shad Gaspard as the body that washed up on shore on Venice Beach this morning pic.twitter.com/08fMb0CaN1
— WrestleZone (@WRESTLEZONEcom) May 20, 2020
BREAKING: @LACoLifeguards confirm body found washed up on Venice Beach this morning matches that of WWE star Shad Gaspard, who went missing Sunday afternoon. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/i1RuITRJCu
— Tina Patel (@tina_patel) May 20, 2020
Local authorities say they’ve found a body matching the description of former WWE Superstar Shad Gaspard.
NBC LA and KTLA 5 are reporting an unidentified body was found on Venice Beach early this morning near the location Gaspard was swept out to sea by a riptide current on Sunday. Officials were called out early Wednesday morning to identify the body after it was found in the sand near the location Gaspard was on Sunday.
According to Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Titus Tyler, the body washed ashore about halfway between Venice Beach pier and the lifeguard headquarters, and did not show any initial signs of foul play.
No information regarding the sex, age or race of the body were immediately released by the LAPD due to the sensitivity of the case. Los Angeles County lifeguards also confirmed that the body does match the description of Sunday’s missing swimmer.
Related: Coast Guard Search For Shad Gaspard Reportedly Suspended; Family Issues Statement
#PierIC at 2:19AM @lacolifeguards @LACOFD @LAPDHQ respond to #VenicePier to a report of a body along the shoreline that matches the description of Sunday’s missing swimmer. Crews on-scene extricate from the water and transfer to @lacountymec pic.twitter.com/b5xYmCOBkj
— LACoLifeguards (@LACoLifeguards) May 20, 2020
#BreakingNews Investigators say a body, matching the description of the missing father, former WWE wrestling star Shad Gaspard, has washed ashore in Venice. He was swept away by a rip current while swimming with his 10 yr old son. Son was rescued by lifeguards. @NBCLA pic.twitter.com/JR2MpZzHah
— Daniella Guzman (@DaniellaNBCLA) May 20, 2020
Gaspard went missing on Sunday after he was stuck in the strong current while swimming with his son at Venice Beach. According to witnesses, he asked first responders to help his son first and was then hit by an ocean wave that submerged him. Gaspard had not been seen since then; the case will not be officially closed until they find him but the family issued a statement on Tuesday after the Coast Guard suspended their search efforts.
