Shad Gaspard search: Coast Guard suspends efforts to find WWE star who went missing off Venice Beach

VENICE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday announced it has suspended its search for a 39-year-old man who went missing in waters off Venice Beach. In a series of Instagram posts, the missing man's wife said he is former WWE wrestling star Shad Gaspard.

The Coast Guard's Base Los Angeles/Long Beach said it suspended its efforts "after 16.5 hours of searching with multiple rescue assets covering 70 square nautical miles and seven search patterns."

Gaspard was among several swimmers who got caught up in strong rip current Sunday near the 4200 block of South Ocean Front Walk, prompting Los Angeles County lifeguards to rescue a 10-year-old boy who is believed to be Gaspard's son.

A 10-year-old child was rescued from the waters off the coast of Venice Beach while the search for his father was conducted, officials said Sunday, May 17.

The boy was described as being in good shape after being pulled from the water. He was not hospitalized.

The elder Gaspard on Sunday "was last seen by a Los Angeles County lifeguard about 3:40 p.m. as he swam in the ocean about 50 yards from Venice Beach," a Los Angeles Police Department statement said. "When last seen by the lifeguard, a wave had crashed over (him) and he was swept out to sea.''

Gaspard was a star with World Wrestling Entertainment, making up one half of the tag team Cryme Time with his partner JTG.

On Monday, his wife, fitness trainer and nutritionist Siliana Gaspard, pleaded for help finding her husband, posting two photos of him on Instagram and saying he'd been missing since Sunday at the beach.

Shad Gaspard is described as black, 6 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 265 pounds, with tattoos on his right shoulder and left chest.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call the LAPD's Missing Persons Unit at (213) 996-1800.