Officials are searching for Shad Gaspard after the former WWE star went missing while swimming in the ocean with his 10-year-old son.
On Sunday, Gaspard and his son were pulled into a strong rip current at Venice Beach, according to TMZ.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed it received a call on Sunday for two reported missing swimmers, a 39-year-old man and his son, a 10-year-old boy.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the child was rescued the same day and did not require transport to the hospital.
The fire department also said the Los Angeles County lifeguard division was leading the continued search.
“We had one of our lifeguards go out to make a double rescue of a father and a son,” Kenichi Haskett, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Division, told the DailyMail. “The father unfortunately got pushed down by a wave as they were getting pulled out of the current.
“The lifeguard rescued and grabbed the boy, the son, and tried to grab the father as well. He ended up getting pushed down by a wave and we couldn’t find him and we immediately started with our rescue boats, called in additional lifeguards to search that location [for] his dad.”
According to a message posted to Gaspard’s Instagram Story, he was last seen wearing swim shorts.
“If you have seen Shad, please message me,” the post reads. “Please don’t flood me asking what happened. We want to know if he’s been seen and where. Thank you.”
A second post shared to Instagram informed Gaspard’s more than 67,000 followers that the wrestling star, a former member of tag team Cryme Tyme, was last seen at Marina Del Rey Beach.
The posts prompted an outpouring of support on Instagram, where Gaspard’s followers have shared their well-wishes for his safe return.
“Praying for you and your family right now,” one person wrote.
Another commented: “Hope you’re okay. The world isn’t done with you yet…”
The Independent has contacted the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Division for comment.
