Swimmer who drowned at popular California beach ID’d — as his sister posts haunting live video

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A man who tragically drowned at a popular Southern California beach has been identified, as his devastated sister shared haunting footage of the monster waves that claimed his life. 

Anthony Goode died Sunday morning after getting caught in the ocean off Playa del Rey, where powerful surf had been pounding the coastline.

His heartbroken sister, Verline Celestine, returned to the scene of the tragedy and streamed an emotional video showing the churning waters where her brother lost his life. 

Standing near Lifeguard Tower 42, Celestine expressed disbelief that Goode had ventured into the dangerous surf despite not knowing how to swim.

“This is where my brother drowned at. Look how rough this water is going and he know he couldn’t swim. I can’t believe Anthony went and got in this water,” she said in the heartbreaking footage.

She also shared a photo of a makeshift memorial created in Goode’s honor on the beach, where his name was written in the sand, surrounded by hand-drawn hearts and candles.

“Rest N Paradise Brother you are at Pieces Brother. Yo Sister Love you dearly. I wasn’t ready Anthony Goode,” she wrote in an emotional tribute.

The tragedy unfolded around 8:18 a.m. Sunday when Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to the 6900 block of Pacific Avenue following reports of a swimmer in distress.

Los Angeles County lifeguards desperately attempted to revive Goode, performing CPR after he was pulled from the water.

Despite their lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, fire officials confirmed to The California Post. Authorities said no foul play was suspected.

The deadly incident came as Southern California’s coastline was being battered by massive waves and dangerous weather conditions linked to the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel. 

In Long Beach, treacherous waves ripped through wooden slats along the city’s historic waterfront boardwalk, sending seawater surging through the damaged structure ahead of Saturday night’s high tide.

Shocking footage showed the battered walkway taking a beating as officials scrambled to protect vulnerable areas from further destruction.

By Saturday evening, the boardwalk had become inaccessible, with authorities posting “No trespassing” signs to keep people away from the dangerous conditions.

Eight structures along the city’s Peninsula were red-tagged as unsafe to enter, while another received a yellow tag, allowing residents only limited access to retrieve their belongings, Mayor Rex Richardson said.

The wild weather wasn’t limited to the coast.

In the Inland Empire, dramatic footage captured a structure being ripped from the ground by ferocious winds as two people desperately struggled to keep it from blowing away.

But for Goode’s grieving family, the weekend’s most devastating toll was the loss of a beloved brother whose final moments unfolded in the unforgiving Pacific Ocean.

His sister’s heartbreaking tribute now marks the stretch of shoreline where his life came to a tragic end.

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