[UPDATED With Body ID'd as Missing Swimmer's:] Joewayne Benford Disappears in Pounding Surf

​UPDATE, SEPT. 19, 2:30 P.M.: The coroner has confirmed a body found by a patrol boat Thursday at a Seal Beach jetty as that of Joewayne Benford. The 24-year-old Long Beach resident disappeared while body boarding with friends in strong rip currents off Seal Beach the evening of Aug. 31. Lifeguards closing up the nearest tower had reportedly advised the young men to stick close to shore. Benford's family described him as a strong swimmer.

​UPDATE, SEPT. 2, 12:49 P.M.: The pounding surf that hit the Orange County coast Thursday also wreaked havoc near Point Mugu to a vessel commonly found here: a boat used for smuggling drugs and people from Mexico.

California State Parks rangers found the abandoned boat split in half on rocks northwest of Malibu, where they also discovered about 240 gallons of fuel and 500 pounds of marijuana packaged in burlap bags, some of which washed ashore.

Authorities suspect boat operators for a drug cartel didn't check conditions before setting off and encountering the high waves that threw the tub into the rocks.

​UPDATE, SEPT. 1, 3:11 P.M.: The U.S. Coast Guard called off their search for missing body boarder Joewayne Benford of Long Beach at noon today.

Rescuers from various agencies have searched a 78-square-mile area from Newport Beach up to Long Beach for the 24-year-old, who disappeared in the strong rip currents off Seal Beach Wednesday evening.

Benford's family described him as a strong swimmer.

UPDATE, SEPT. 1, 11:11 A.M.: The U.S. Coast Guard Thursday morning identified the missing swimmer off Seal Beach as Joewayne Benford of Long Beach.

His age has also been corrected; he's 24.

Benford's family was on the beach today, searching for their loved one.

ORIGINAL POST, SEPT. 1, 8:49 A.M.: The heavy surf expected to hit Orange County shores arrived early.

And it's already claimed a victim, apparently.

A 26 24-year-old body boarder disappeared in a rip current off Surfside Wednesday evening.

Only the board had washed ashore at last report.

He and three friends had been tangling with 5- to 7-foot waves with 10-foot surges before his buddies informed lifeguards of the man's disappearance around 6:30 p.m. He was last seen about 200 feet from shore.

As the lifeguard station was closing, the foursome had been told to remain close to shore due to the rough surf, according to authorities.

The U.S. Coast Guard, the Orange County Sheriff Department's Harbor Patrol and lifeguards from Seal Beach and Long Beach participated in the search that stretched overnight and into first light today. Divers, helicopters and patrol boats have been on the scene.

Photo by Chasen Marshall/OC Weekly

The Wedge

​A high tide around 11 a.m. Wednesday flooded the Balboa Pier area, bringing knee-deep water to the pierside park and surrounding neighborhoods. A sand berm was quickly erected, and water had to be pumped out of at least one nearby building.

Heavy surf forecast for the Wedge that was supposed to come today also arrived early, sending bodyboarders into the drink and lookiloos onto the shore.

• The Wedge Forecast: 20-Foot Waves

Sets are expected to continue rising there through the weekend, and lifeguards are warning that only expert riders should paddle out into Balboa's world-famous breaks.

A National Weather Service high surf advisory is in effect until 5 p.m. Friday along the Orange County coast, particularly south-facing beaches. This comes courtesy of a strong storm off the coast of New Zealand.