Gold River Man Who Died Fishing ID'd

MARIN COUNTY, CA – A 74-year-old man who died over the weekend while fishing with friends in the South Beach area inside the Point Reyes National Seashore was identified as Ki Chun Kim of Gold River, the Marin County Sheriff's Office said today.

On Saturday morning, Kim reportedly was digging for sand crabs on the beach with his back facing the water when he was presumably struck by a wave, which knocked him into the water, officials said.

"The subject did not have a personal flotation device in place and had been wearing bib-style fishing waders, which filled with water preventing his return to the shoreline," the agency said.

When Kim's friends returned to the beach from the parking lot, they discovered the victim unresponsive, floating facedown in the water and called 911 at about 10:45 a.m., deputies said.

Multiple agencies responded, including a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew which was in the area for a training operation. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer was deployed from the helicopter and brought the unconscious Kim to the shore, deputies said. CPR was administered, and the man then was airlifted to the Point Reyes Beach south parking area, where paramedics were waiting, according to authorities.

Despite resuscitative efforts, Kim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A post-mortem examination and toxicology test was scheduled for Tuesday to determine the official cause of death. The investigation is being handled by the National Park Service and the Marin County coroner.

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