By DIVE Staff
The body of a firefighter who went missing while freediving in the Port of Long Beach, California, in December 2024 has been recovered by the Long Beach Police Department.
Firefighter Connor J Lees, a six-year veteran of the Los Angeles City Fire Department, was reported missing on 4 December 2024 while freediving for lobster with three other friends.
Lees, who was also a surfer and described as an ‘ocean lover’ was freediving for lobster with two other men while a fourth remained on board their boat. Shortly after they entered the water, however, the two men returned saying they had lost sight of Lees underwater.
The alarm was raised at around 9.55 pm and a joint search operation was launched by Long Beach Fire Department aided by divers from the US Coast Guard, Los Angeles City and County fire departments, and investigators from the Los Angeles Port and Long Beach police departments.
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The ‘complex’ operation, which included 24 divers, was eventually called off on the evening of Friday, 6 December, and Lees, who was aged just 29 when he disappeared, was declared missing, presumed lost at sea.
Lees’ remains were finally recovered on 28 March by officers from the Long Beach Police Department
In a statement posted on its website and social media pages, a spokes person for the Los Angeles Fire Department said: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share an update regarding Firefighter III Connor J Lees.
‘On March 28, 2025, the Long Beach Police Department recovered the body of Firefighter Connor J Lees from the waters off Long Beach.
Firefighter Lees, 29, was a dedicated member of the Los Angeles City Fire Department for six years, serving with distinction at Fire Station 94 B Platoon in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw community. He was off duty at the time of his disappearance, recreationally diving with friends.
‘The LAFD stands united in grief alongside Firefighter Lees’ family, friends, and colleagues. We extend our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him.’
