Lifeguards on Wednesday recovered a body near Three Arch Bay presumed to be that of missing teen Anthony Parnell. The 18-year-old was swept out to sea 11 days earlier from Thousand Steps Beach in South Laguna by a large wave. The teen and three friends visiting from Las Vegas had clambered over a rock ledge at the far end of the beach during large surf, witnesses told lifeguards.
Laguna Beach police Sgt. Tim Kleiser said Wednesday a Three Arch Bay resident on South La Senda Drive called authorities about 4 p.m. after spotting something that looked like a body in the water.
The grim find was taken to the Dana Point Harbor, where authorities awaited for the arrival of a coroner to make a formal identification, Kleiser said.
Lifeguards suspended their recovery efforts last Thursday after calmer seas allowed the deployment of divers.