Beachgoer finds human leg on California coast

A beachgoer walking the Bluff Cove Trail early Christmas morning discovered a severed portion of a human leg among the rocks of the Palos Verdes Estates’ beach, according to police.

The Los Angeles County Department of the Medical Examiner took possession of the body part and has not made any identification, said Capt. Aaron Belda, of the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department.

A cadaver dog searched the vicinity in the 800 block of Paseo Del Mar and did not locate anything else, Belda said.

“We don’t have any reason to believe there is any foul play in this instance,” he said.

Police did not find any evidence to indicate whether the limb is related to two fishermen who went missing nearby early Tuesday, Dec. 24. A wrecked boat believed to belong to the two men was found about 1.7 miles south. The two men were scheduled to meet a friend near Cabrillo Marina but did not show up.

“We’re not ruling anything out, but that has not been determined at this point,” Belda said. “No identification has been made and we don’t have any supporting information to believe that they are connected.”

The U.S. Coast Guard placed its search for the missing boaters in “active suspension” about 2 p.m. Dec. 25, following nearly 34 hours of searching. A public information officer said the search could resume if additional evidence is located.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for Tuesday and Wednesday for Los Angeles County’s beaches and warned the public to stay out of the water due to large waves of up to 13 feet and dangerous rip currents.