April 28--A body that washed up at Dockweiler State Beach on Wednesday afternoon may be that of a man who disappeared while swimming in the ocean eight days ago, officials said.
D.J. Jeffries was last seen swimming near Lifeguard Tower 18 at Manhattan Beach on April 19 about 5 p.m. when he was reported missing.
About 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, a bystander at Dockweiler reported seeing a body wash ashore. Dockweiler is about five miles north of Manhattan Beach.
"It's possible it's the same individual," said Spencer Parker of the Los Angeles County lifeguards.
Investigators are waiting for the coroner to positively identify the body and determine a cause of death.
Friends told authorities that they lost sight of Jeffries when he was about 50 yards into the water, Los Angeles County Fire Department lifeguard specialist Lidia Barillas told KTLA-TV Channel 5.
A massive search quickly got underway, with helicopter crews, divers and lifeguards combing the water.
Lifeguards from Redondo Beach and crews from the L.A. County Fire Department joined the effort.
Los Angeles Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.
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