Santa Monica Lifeguard Dies On Duty

SANTA MONICA, CA — Los Angeles County Lifeguard Derek Traeger died while on duty Sunday after six years with the department, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division announced Monday.

Traeger, 28, was on active duty in Santa Monica at the time of his death, but no further details about how he died were immediately available. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner listed the location where he died as simply "freeway."

"OL Traeger understood better than most what it means to wear the red trunks. His passion for life, art, the ocean, and his lifeguard family was evident in every moment he lived," the department said.

Traeger was most recently assigned to the beaches of Santa Monica North, the department said in an Instagram post.

Hundreds of people took to social media to share love for Traeger, celebrating his work ethic and positive attitude.

"Derek was one of the guards who encouraged me to try out to be a lifeguard even though I was full of self-doubt. RIP you will be missed," one person wrote on Instagram.

"[Derek] was a beautiful human. Kind and so thoughtful. You will be missed," another person wrote.