BY MIKE STEVENS
NEWPORT BEACH – An angler fishing from the rocks near the famous “Wedge” surf break in Newport Beach was swept off the jetty on Christmas Eve during treacherous conditions. He remains missing, and at this point, his family is looking for closure by finding his body.
Lu Thu “Tyler” Tran arrived in the area at around 6 a.m., according to a notice posted by the experienced angler’s friends and family who tracked his phone to the spot and found his fishing gear and car keys. Authorities searched the area from boats on December 24 and added dive teams and a helicopter for the continued search on Christmas Day. His friends and family joined the Coast Guard and Newport Beach Fire Department to help search on foot and with drones.
Footage from Surfline webcams is believed to have shown Tran on the jetty during heavy surf before slipping and falling into the water. He was visiting from Nevada for the holidays, and Christmas Day would have marked his 43rd birthday.
