AVILA BEACH — On June 18, the Sheriff’s Office responded to a distress call regarding a potential drowning incident in the waters off Avila Beach.

According to reports, a male individual contacted authorities, stating that he and his friend were kayaking near Avila Beach when his companion fell out of the kayak. The caller attempted to assist his friend but was unable to rescue him from the water. Subsequently, the man safely made it back to shore and promptly reported the incident to authorities.

Following the report, a joint search and rescue effort was initiated involving Sheriff’s Detectives, Cal Fire, Harbor Patrol, CHP, and the Coast Guard. Their primary objective was to locate the missing kayaker. At approximately 7 p.m., the body of the kayaker was discovered.

At this stage, the evidence suggests that the kayaker’s death was accidental. However, the identification of the deceased individual is being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.