Mystery of naked surfer found dead and covered in shark bites after taking off his wetsuit and tying it to his board

PUBLISHED: 11:05 EST, 11 May 2013 | UPDATED: 16:23 EST, 11 May 2013

The body of a naked surfer covered in shark bites was discovered near a San Diego beach.

Authorities said on Friday they believe Brandon Beaver had been surfing on Wednesday and then drowned, before he was bitten by sharks.

The 42-year-old man was found floating in the water early on Thursday, after his fiancee had reported him missing.

Missing: Brandon Beaver, 42, was reported missing late on Wednesday by his fiancee. His body was discovered early on Thursday covered in shark bites

Water: Another surfer said he had seen Beaver out on the water at Pacific Beach in San Diego on Wednesday

Investigation: An autopsy has concluded that the San Diego surfer had drowned before being bitten by sharks

San Diego Lifeguard Lt. John Everhart told KSWB-TV the man's surfboard was found separately with his wetsuit tied around it.

'I’ve been doing this 30 years almost and I’ve never seen someone do that. It’s just a very strange decision to make when you’re out on the water,' he said.

The death is now under investigation.

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'There was certainly a lot of trauma that was done to the body,' Everthart added.

The man's fiancee, who has not been identified, reported him missing on Wednesday night when he didn't come back from surfing.

A person walking along the shoreline spotted the body around 3:30am on Thursday.

Death: The body of a naked surfer, Brandon Beaver, was found on Thursday covered in shark bites near Pacific Beach in San Diego

Mysterious: The man's body was discovered by a pedestrian who spotted it floating in the water. The surfer had taken off his wetsuit and wrapped it around his surfboard

Another surfer told the local news station that he had seen Beaver out on the water on Wednesday.

'I just saw him paddle off shore out there, going north just by himself,' Neil Ratnavara said.

'There were still a few people in the water. Not too waves, but there was nothing odd about that.'

An autopsy has concluded that a San Diego surfer whose body was found in the water had drowned before being bitten by sharks.

Brandon Beaver's body was found floating offshore early Thursday, a day before he went missing during a surfing outing off Pacific Beach.

The county Medical Examiner's office has concluded that Beaver drowned, and that the shark bites came in a 'post-mortem' attack.

Trauma: The county Medical Examiner's office has concluded that Beaver drowned, and that the shark bites came in a 'post-mortem' attack (stock photo)

Mystery surrounds surfer death in Pacific Beach

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Nothing like a bit of naked surfing to get your teeth into.

- Resnam , Sandbanks, 12/5/2013 09:10

Click to rate Rating 5

The shark threw him back ?

- Lynzey , Toronto-Canada, 12/5/2013 05:08

Click to rate Rating 12

Why do you attach a picture of a WHITE shark to the story. Did the bites determine that it was a WHITE shark? Why blame whitey?

- Fred Barnett , kailua, 12/5/2013 04:47

Click to rate Rating 21

How heartbreaking for his fiancee and his parents. Heartfelt condolences to them.

- Mick , Sydney, 12/5/2013 04:17

Click to rate Rating 32

And the error has still not been corrected, though most comments are pointing directly at it.

- Evan , Los Angeles, United States, 12/5/2013 03:55

Click to rate Rating 4

drugs

- skippiejohnjones , los ángeles, 12/5/2013 03:26

Click to rate Rating 30

maybe something got in his suit so he took it off, that caused paralysis, causing him to drown, the bit just a theory

- suitcaseshane , skrewston tx, 12/5/2013 00:47

Click to rate Rating 25

Good think they labeled the photo of the great white as a stock photo. Just so we didn't confuse it with the exact shark who is to blame. - swimkids3 , NJ, USA, 11/5/2013 =================================================================== If DM didn't so identify it, people would be accusing DM of trying to do exactly that. Either way, they're going to get complaints.

- cydcharisse , anywhere, United States, 11/5/2013 23:39

Click to rate Rating 9

Good think they labeled the photo of the great white as a stock photo. Just so we didn't confuse it with the exact shark who is to blame.

- swimkids3 , NJ, USA, 11/5/2013 23:11

Click to rate Rating 102

DM writers are always making silly typos. AFTER not before he went missing, dimwit!

- saadia , Botswana, 11/5/2013 23:00

Click to rate Rating 80

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