WWE star Shad Gaspard search called off as his family say they appreciate love and support
THE family of missing former WWE wrestler Shad Gaspard said his family appreciated the “love, support, and concern.”
The US Coast Guard and LAPD have reportedly called off the immediate search for the well-known wrestler who vanished during a swim with his son on in .
The USCG confirmed on Tuesday morning it is no longer assisting in recovery efforts and the LAPD is now leading investigations.
The 39-year-old star is presumed dead after being pulled out to sea by a strong rip current on Sunday afternoon, leaving his loved ones devastated.
Gaspard’s friends released an emotional statement on behalf of his devastated family the day after he disappeared beneath the waves.
“[Shad’s] family appreciates all the love, support, and concern through this horrible ordeal,” fellow wrestlers and Montel Vontavious Porter both tweeted.
“At this time they are not ready to make any public or official statements to any media outlet And ask all to respect their wishes.”
Later, Porter issued a heartfelt tribute to his friend as he linked back to a picture of Gaspard with his son, writing “all heroes don’t wear capes. Some wear Timbs.”
Fellow WWE star JTG, who performed alongside Gaspard in wrestling tag team, “Cryme Tyme,” also shared a screenshot of a chat they had back in January, less than four months before his death.
“If ever I die tomorrow just know I love you as a brother and friend for ever even past this life,” Gaspard wrote, to which JTG replied: “Love you too brotha.”
The day after his disappearance, Matt Morgan, a retired professional wrestler and Florida city’s mayor, also shared photos of him with Gaspard.
“Never did the meaning ‘brother’ mean more to me than it did with#ShadGaspard,” he wrote.
“I’ll never forget the day Shad posted these pics of us early 20 something-year-olds, & illustrating our pathway through life’s accomplishments & into fatherhood side by side 4 20 years! I love u brother.”
Gaspard vanished while swimming at Venice Beach in California with his ten-year-old son and a group of others who got caught in a rip current at around 4pm on Sunday.
Gaspard is reported to have told lifeguards to save his boy first, who did not need to be hospitalized and was escorted off the beach, where his mom, Siliana Gaspard remained waiting.
But the rip current pulled him out to sea and he has not been seen despite hours of searching by the US Coast Guard’s helicopters and divers.
the status of the case will now be downgraded even though the search is never given up until they find a body.
Pono Barnes, a lifeguard specialist with the Los Angeles Fire Department, said: “That group was stuck in one of the rip currents and were swimming just north of the lifeguard tower.
“That’s why lifeguards were able to get there so soon, but unfortunately, one did, however, submerge.”
The former pro wrestler was spending Sunday at the beach with his son and wife, Siliana Gaspard, who appealed for information on Instagram last night.
Gaspard is best-known for his work with partner JTG in the WWE tag team Cryme Tyme between 2006 and 2014.
Back in December 2016, he single-handedly stopped an armed robbery in Florida by seizing the assailant’s gun and subduing him until police arrived.
