Former WWE Star Shad Gaspard Disappears in the Surf at Venice Beach

Lifeguards at Venice Beach, California, launched a massive search after ex-WWE superstar Shad Gaspard disappeared under the surf on Sunday.

Gaspard and his ten-year-old son were swimming off the beach at around 4 P.M. but, along with other swimmers, the pair were caught in a strong rip current. The wrestler’s son was quickly rescued from the treacherous waters, but Gaspard went under and has not been seen since, according to TMZ Sports.

One L.A. Fire Dept. official told the media that the 39-year-old wrestler “did submerge.”

Rescuers said that when they initially went into the surf to save the six-foot-six, 295-pound Gaspard, he told them to get his son to shore first. But when lifeguards returned for the wrestler, he could not be found.

Divers are getting back in the water to search for a father who got swept away in rip currents last night. TMZ has identified him as former #WWE star Shad Gaspard. His 10 yr old son was rescued. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/rBpKiasD3G

— Tina Patel (@tina_patel) May 18, 2020

LA County Sheriff’s divers just resumed the search for 10-year-old boy’s father who was caught in strong rip currents yesterday. @TMZ confirms father as 39-year-old former WWE Superstar Shad Gaspard. @WWE @FOXLA @GDLA @LASDHQ pic.twitter.com/6gX4cZdyC7

— Mario Ramirez (@MarioFOXLA) May 18, 2020

Divers quickly mounted a wider search aided by a helicopter to scan the waters from above, but to no avail.

Often wrestling as “Da Beast,” Gaspard’s pro wrestling career lasted from 2002 to 2010.

Gaspard most recently made news in 2016 when he stopped an armed robbery in Florida.

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