2nd human leg found at Palos Verdes Estates shoreline 2 days after fishermen go missing
Authorities found a second limb Thursday while investigating the earlier discovery of a severed leg that washed ashore on the Palos Verdes Estates coast, as they work to determine any potential connection to two men who went missing early Tuesday while fishing in rough surf off the shoreline.
The first limb was found around 8:20 a.m. Wednesday in roughly the same spot where the men’s boat capsized.
Around 1 p.m. Thursday, authorities searching the area found a second leg, according to Aaron Belda of the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department. An unconfirmed human femur was also discovered, according to Belda. Authorities have “reason to believe that the two incidents are connected,” Belda said, referring to the beached vessel found overturned on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner will investigate the remains to assess its possible connection to the missing boaters.
The Coast Guard was notified just after 5 a.m. Tuesday that the boat was overdue, Lt. Sondra Kneen told City News Service. The men had been scheduled to arrive near Cabrillo Marina but never turned up.
Tuesday’s search effort began at first light and included a helicopter, which arrived at the scene at 8:30 a.m. Other agencies were using drones to search the water, Kneen said.
The fishermen, described as two men in their 50s, launched from Cabrillo Beach on Monday and were supposed to return by midnight, KTLA5 reported.
Crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department began a search at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday and found a boat up against the rocks near the 1800 block of Paseo Del Mar, but the men remained missing, the fire department said.
The search resumed Wednesday morning. However, in an update at 1:41 p.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard announced the search was called off due to “no signs of distress” and “no response to UMIB (Urgent Marine Information Broadcast.)”
Authorities had warned the public to stay out of the water at Southland beaches Tuesday and Wednesday due to large waves and dangerous rip currents. A high surf advisory was issued by the National Weather Service that continued until 9 p.m. Wednesday for Los Angeles County beaches.
Forecasters said “large breaking waves” of 8 to 13 feet impacted west-facing beaches Tuesday morning.