SEAL BEACH, Calif. (KTLA) – Family, friends and co-workers gathered in Seal Beach Sunday to honor the life of Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter Connor Leeds, who died while recreational freediving earlier this month.
The incident on December 5th happened when Leeds, 29, and three other divers in their 20s went freediving. Freediving involves holding your breath for as long as possible while diving without scuba gear off the coast of Long Beach. The Los Angeles Times reported.
Long Beach Fire spokesman Brian Fisk told the Times that one of the men was likely operating a watercraft, while the others were free diving, and that only one of the three men returned from the dive. added that there were only two people.
The three called for emergency assistance just before 10 a.m. and began a multi-agency search with divers from the U.S. Coast Guard, LAFD, LA County Fire Department, LBPD, and LA Port Police.
Search and rescue efforts for Connor Leeds, who went missing at sea while freediving off the coast of Long Beach on December 5, 2024. (KTLA) A vigil at Seal Beach honors the life of Connor Leeds, who went missing at sea while freediving in the area. December 5, 2024 Off Long Beach (KTLA)
More than 19 hours into the search, authorities made the difficult decision to transition from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission.
“The decision to transition operations to a recovery mission was not taken lightly,” LBFD said in an Instagram post. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the missing divers and our brothers and sisters in the Los Angeles Fire Department as we move through this transition.”
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Officials told the Times that investigators do not suspect foul play and that Leeds is believed to have been lost at sea.
Lees, who grew up in Seal Beach and was a six-year LAFD veteran, was remembered Sunday night as a community figure whose untimely and tragic death will impact many who knew him. Ta.
Friends say the 29-year-old loved the ocean and beaches, and where he grew up was the perfect place to celebrate his lasting memories.
