SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The man who died while reportedly trying to surf down an Escondido flood channel after heavy rainfall Thursday has been identified.
The body of 62-year-old James Michael Miller was recovered Thursday after he entered a flood channel with his surfboard near Quince Street, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner.
After Miller disappeared from sight, a 911 call was placed. San Diego Fire-Rescue's Swift Water Rescue Team responded and recovered Miller's body that night in Escondido Creek.
Witnesses told police Miller fell off the board while trying to paddleboard down the channel.
Video of the scene showed emergency workers lowering a rescue boat into the channel to recover Miller. Another video showed water rushing through the channel and a paddleboard being washed down the channel.
As of Friday morning, Escondido saw about 3.35 inches of rainfall over the previous two days, according to the NOAA.
The county's ME did not release Miller's cause of death.
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