Man, Days From Retirement, Dies in Boating Accident
DANA POINT — A Los Angeles County sheriff’s sergeant died when he slipped off a boat, injured his head and drowned, authorities said Monday.
Gerard McCune, 53, of Long Beach was with his wife and some friends in the west anchorage of Dana Point Harbor shortly before midnight Sunday when he apparently slipped off a swim step and hit his head on it, Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Jay Menendez said.
McCune’s friends and the harbor patrol dive team found his body under the boat about 30 minutes later and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
McCune, who worked as a sergeant in the sheriff’s court services, was just days away from retirement, according to colleagues.
“He was planning to retire in the first week of June,” Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Gabe Ramirez said. “It’s really sad.”
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
