Fire Department Honors Fallen Firefighter at Seal Beach Vigil
SEAL BEACH, Calif. – A poignant gathering took place on Sunday in Seal Beach to pay tribute to Connor Lees, a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department, who tragically passed away earlier this month during a recreational free dive.
- The incident, dated December 5, involved Lees, aged 29, and three other divers in their 20s who embarked on a free dive. This diving practice involves holding one’s breath for as long as possible while diving without the aid of scuba gear in the waters off Long Beach, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
- Brian Fisk, spokesperson for the Long Beach Fire Department, informed The Times that while one of the men was likely steering the small watercraft, the others were engaged in free diving. Notably, only two of the three divers returned from the dive.
- Emergency services were contacted just before 10 a.m., initiating a multi-agency search operation involving divers from the U.S. Coast Guard, LAFD, L.A. County Fire, LBPD, and the L.A. Port Police.
More than 19 hours into the search, officials faced the difficult decision to shift from a search and rescue operation to a recovery mission.
“The decision to transition operations to a recovery mission is not taken lightly,” stated the Long Beach Fire Department in an Instagram post. “As we make this transition, our thoughts and prayers continue for the family of the missing diver and for our brothers and sisters at the Los Angeles City Fire Department.”
The Search and Transition to Recovery
Authorities informed The Times that there was no suspicion of foul play, and it was believed that Lees was lost at sea.
Lees, who was raised in Seal Beach and served the LAFD for six years, was remembered as a cornerstone of the community. His unexpected and tragic passing deeply impacted those who knew him.
Friends of Lees shared that the 29-year-old held a deep love for the ocean and the beach. They noted that Seal Beach, the place he called home, was the ideal setting to honor his enduring memory.
For further details, see related articles on the incident and the broader implications for the firefighting community.