Long Beach surfer's body found

After an urgent search over the past several days, the body of missing Long Beach High School teacher and local surfer Daniel Bobis — who disappeared off the coast of southern Sumatra on Sunday during a surfing trip to Indonesia with his wife, Rachel — has been found.

Bobis, 32, was reported missing on July 24, after surfing near the tiny enclave of Damai with his wife and a friend, Brian Lonergan, at around 9 a.m. local time. The trio had been traveling and surfing in exotic locations since June. According to information his wife posted on Facebook on Sunday, the leash on his board broke as he surfed in an area known for its 12-foot waves.

Bobis’s disappearance made headlines across the globe, as family and friends called for an intensified search effort and urged the U.S. and Indonesian governments to provide a rescue helicopter and divers. Hundreds gathered on the boardwalk at Laurelton Boulevard on Sunday, where he often surfed, for a candlelight vigil.

Friends said that initial search efforts proved difficult due to rough weather and the remote location, northwest of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, and roughly six hours from the nearest airport. In the days since his disappearance, a Facebook page, Daniel Bobis Info, was created to update friends and family, and many have expressed their support for his family and written that they are praying for his safe return. A fund has also been created to defray the costs of the search effort.

As the conditions improved on Tuesday, friends said that a helicopter, a dive team, local fishing boats and others searched for Bobis in the water and along the coast for hours, to no avail. Rachel Bobis and Lonergan have also been searching.

On Thursday morning, several friends of Bobis and his family posted on his Facebook information page that Bobis’ body had been found.

“Last night Rachel, Bob, Lydia, and Brian received word that a body was found somewhere up the coast by fishermen,” posted Jamie Imerese. “They immediately traveled together in hopes that it was a coincidence...It was not. They positively identified Danny. He is gone and now we must mourn. . . . In this terrible time of tragedy we must keep our energy on what Danny stood for and how we can be there for his family.”

Sean Pearsall, a close friend of the Bobis family, also posted on the Facebook page, and asked that others respect the family during this difficult time.

“… As a very close friend of Danny and Rachel, and after confirming with his family, Daniel Bobis has passed away,” he said. “No further details have been provided, nor are necessary at this time. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of this amazing husband, teacher, surfer and friend to so many.”