A 25-year-old firefighter from California tragically drowned off a San Diego pier early Thursday morning after spending time at the beach with family and friends, police said.
The Oakland Fire Department confirmed on Facebook that Caedan Laffan passed away unexpectedly due to drowning. Authorities are awaiting results from an autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death.
Laffan’s friends and family alerted lifeguards after he entered the ocean near Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, swam briefly, and then disappeared from sight. San Diego police responded to the scene around 1:56 a.m., launching a search that involved rescue teams and a Coast Guard helicopter. Laffan’s body was found on the beach north of the pier at approximately 4:15 a.m.
“He had washed onto the beach on the north side of the pier. Unfortunately, incidents happen. And it’s just a sad story,” said Lt. Rick Romero of the San Diego Fire-Rescue.
Laffan, draped in a U.S. flag, was later moved to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s van by police, fire personnel, friends, and family.
Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington expressed deep sadness over Laffan’s passing, describing him as a young, enthusiastic member of their department with a promising future. Laffan came from a family deeply rooted in firefighting, with his father having served as assistant fire chief before his passing in 2020.