Los Angeles County lifeguards raced to the waters Sunday after several swimmers got caught in strong rip currents and rescued a 10-year-old boy, who is believed to be Gaspard's son.
Siliana Gaspard, the 39-year-old's wife, posted on Instagram that her husband has been missing since Sunday. On Monday, she posted two photos of her husband next to a child, saying he was last seen at Marina Del Rey beach.
The boy was pulled from the water Sunday and was in good shape. He was not hospitalized.
Lifeguards rescue 10-year-old boy from waters in Venice Beach, father remains missing
"That group was stuck in one of the rip currents and were swimming just north of the lifeguard tower," said Pono Barnes, an ocean lifeguard specialist with the L.A. Fire Department. "That's why lifeguards were able to get there so soon, but unfortunately, one did, however, submerge."
"Subsurface searches" for the man were suspended by county lifeguards just before sundown but picked back up again Monday morning.
The incident happened on a day when officials say the surf and the weather created challenging conditions.
"That surf that we have paired with a little bit of wind and good tidal swing today made rip currents a little bit more prevalent and a little bit stronger," Barnes said.