Crime & Safety

Update: Search for Man Who Disappeared at Beach Called Off

The man had been on the beach with friends, who said they turned around and he was gone.

By Bay City News

Updated at 12:02 p.m., March 25

The search for a 22-year-old man who disappeared from a Half Moon Bay beach on Sunday afternoon has been called off, a U.S. Coast Guard officer said this morning.

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The man was playing football with friends at Roosevelt State Beach near Pillar Point when members of the group realized he was gone.

His disappearance prompted a Coast Guard search that began around 2:45 p.m., Coast Guard Officer Mark Leahey said.

Find out what's happening in Half Moon Baywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A Coast Guard helicopter and rescue boat responded, and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office sent out a boat and a plane to search for the man, sheriff's Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt said.

The sheriff's office stopped searching shortly before 6 p.m., and the Coast Guard ended its search shortly before 8 p.m.

It has not been confirmed that the man ever entered the water, Leahey said.

"There's no evidence he is out there," he said.

Unless there are further developments, the search will not resume today, he said.

The man has worked at the Gin Wan Chinese Restaurant, located at 2810 Cabrillo Highway North in Half Moon Bay, for about two years, restaurant owner Suki Kaufman said this morning.

She said the restaurant closes for lunch around 2:30 p.m., which was when the man went to the nearby beach to play ball.

He was wearing a black T-shirt and shorts when he disappeared.

Leahey said the man's name is not being released until his next of kin has been notified about his disappearance.

Anyone with information about the man is asked to contact the Coast Guard at (415) 399-3451

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Updated at 10:15 p.m., March 24

Rescue crews are searching for a 22-year-old man who disappeared from a beach in Half Moon Bay this afternoon, a U.S. Coast Guard officer said.

The Coast Guard sent out a helicopter from San Francisco at 2:48 p.m., Officer Mark Leahey said.

The man had been on the beach with friends, who said they turned around and he was gone. There was no confirmation the man entered the water, Leahey said.

Along with the Coast Guard, the San Mateo Fire Department and the Pillar Point harbormaster were assisting with the search.

As of about 7:20 p.m., the man still had not been found, Leahey said.

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