A Florida man, identified as William Romberg, drowned on Sunday afternoon in the waters near his home in Laguna Beach after attempting to rescue a seagull caught in his fishing line. Romberg, 31, was fishing at an inlet when his line snagged a bird. Noticing the seagull's distress, he swam out to untangle it, but the fishing hook became caught on his hand in the process.
As Romberg tried to swim back to shore, powerful currents prevented him from reaching safety. He was exhausted from the rescue attempt and the struggle against the water, ultimately succumbing to the sea. He leaves behind his wife, Taylor, and their two young daughters, Hadley, 3, and Lainey, 1.
Romberg was employed as a beach manager at Carillon Beach by the company La Dolce Vita. The company issued a statement on Tuesday, remembering Romberg for his "kind heart, hard work, and willingness to always lend a hand." The statement continued, "His kindness left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him, and he will be deeply missed." The company extended its condolences to his wife and daughters and expressed hope for community support.
Taylor Romberg's employer, Brad Dahler 30A Realtor, also released a statement expressing heartbreak over the loss of her husband. They described Taylor as "one of the most incredible people" they know and noted that her husband was similarly cherished.
Community members shared tributes online, with one Facebook post calling Romberg and his wife "truly some of the most genuine, salt of the earth people." Another friend described the family as "truly love[d]" and asked for prayers for Taylor and their children.
An online fundraiser was established to support Romberg's family financially during this "devastating loss," aiming to help with hospital bills and funeral expenses. As of Wednesday evening, the fundraiser had garnered over $112,000.
