ACKINAZI, Samuel

ACKINAZI, Samuel (c. 1962-1991), 29, drowned near Seal Rocks while trying to salvage items from the surf on October 26, 1991.

In the News~

November 7, 1991 [Avalon Bay News]: “Samuel Ackinazi, a 29 year old man from La Mirada, drowned near Seal Rock, on October 26, 1991. The accident occurred while he was attempting to salvage his 16-foot outboard and miscellaneous fishing gear from the surf on the rocky shoreline. Samuel Ackinazi and Ken Zwingmann left Long Beach Golden Shores Landing on Friday, October 25, and headed to Catalina Island to fish and camp-out. They set up their camp site around the Seal Rock area. After dinner, about 10 PM, they went to sleep. Samuel Ackinazi awakened about an hour later, to find that his boat had slipped anchor, and was nowhere in sight. He awakened his friend, and both men searched for the boat. They found it approximately 100 yards west of their camp site on the rocks, half in the water and half ashore. The surf had pounded the boat against the rocks, leaving several holes in the bottom of the boat. So, the two men removed their belongings and secured the boat as best they could. They went back to sleep about 1 AM. Samuel Ackinazi woke up about 7 AM and went over to his boat and climbed aboard. Ken Zwingmann came out of the tent about this time, and started walking toward his friend, but had to stop because of rocks in his shoes. He sat down and removed his shoes, took the rocks out of his shoes, and put his shoes back on. He stood up and turned toward Samuel and the boat, and at first saw nothing there. He then spotted the capsized boat, and is friend was nowhere in sight. Ken tried to pull the boat ashore and lift it off his friend, but was unable to. He summoned a passing fisherman, Steve Quarnstrom, who called L.A. County Lifeguards, Avalon Baywatch. Samuel Ackinazi was in full cardiac arrest when Baywatch retrieved his body from underneath the boat. He was pronounced dead by Dr. Jensen at Avalon Hospital.”