Crime & Safety

Man's Death at McClures Beach Ruled Accidental Drowning

A Rodeo man had left his group to go fishing, then was spotted floating in the water.

The in ocean water off a West Marin beach has been ruled an accidental drowning following an autopsy by the Marin County Sheriff/Coroner's Office.

Sgt. Keith Boyd released the results of the autopsy Tuesday and said dangerous and violent surf conditions at McClures Beach resulted in the body recovery process taking 3 1/2 hours from the time Rim K. Lee was spotted to the time he was pulled in.

Lee, 72, of Rodeo, was declared dead at 5:58 p.m. Saturday at a beach between Stinson Beach and Bolinas in the Point Reyes National Seashore.

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Lee had gone to the beach with friends and family to do some fishing, and he went to the south end of the beach alone at about 1 p.m., Boyd said. His fishing gear was found on the rocky shoreline and members of Lee's group saw his body in the water near Elephant Rock, prompting several 911 calls at about 2:30 p.m. The U.S. National Park Service, the Marin County Fire Department and sheriff's deputies responded and found Lee unresponsive in the water.


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