Coast Guard suspends search for missing swimmer in Manhattan Beach

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing swimmer near the coast of Manhattan Beach Wednesday morning, but dive teams and lifeguards continued to look.

D.J. Jeffries, 25, went missing around 5 p.m. Tuesday. The Hawthorne resident was about 50 yards out from the shore near 18th Street.

Los Angeles County lifeguards said friends who were with the former U.S. Army serviceman said they did not see him struggling while he was in the ocean and did not realize he had gone underwater.

Family and friends gathered at the beach that evening in the hopes of rescue crews finding him. The search was suspended until daybreak Wednesday, but then suspended again shortly before 8:30 a.m.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's dive team will continue to conduct dive operations in search of Jeffries, who was last seen in gray shorts with no lifejacket on.

Anyone with information was asked to call the Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach Command Center at 9310) 521-3801.