A surfer who died after being pulled from the water unconscious near Surfrider Beach in Malibu as Hurricane Marie kicked up 7-foot waves was identified, officials said.
Silverio Rafanan Laconsay, 54, of Los Angeles was pulled from the water unconscious on Tuesday at 11:20 a.m. at historic Surfrider beach near the Malibu Pier.
Coroner's officials said Thursday they were awaiting an autopsy to determine how he died.
The death came as a big south swell coming from Baja California and stirred up from Hurricane Marie sent waves up to 2 feet overhead along some south-facing beaches in Southern California, forecasters said.
The big waves raised fears of flooding and powerful rip currents through Friday and created "extremely dangerous" conditions for swimmers and surfers, forecasters said.
