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Surfer Found Dead Near Refugio Beach

Santa Barbara County Fire Department recovered the man’s body Thursday afternoon off the Gaviota Coast.

Surfer Found Dead Near Refugio Beach

[Updated: Mon., Aug. 25, 2025, 10:12am]

The body of a surfer was discovered Thursday afternoon off the Gaviota Coast, west of Refugio Beach.

At 1:42 p.m., authorities received a report of a surfboard floating about 100 yards offshore near a kelp bed roughly three-quarters of a mile from Refugio, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.