By Trina A. San Agustin
Variety News Staff

THE missing airman swept out to sea at Tarague Beach on Saturday has been declared deceased by Andersen Air Force Base officials.
The Guam Police Department’s Marine Patrol Section has been conducting recovery dive efforts to locate his remains. As of press time, they were still searching, and there’s no word whether they will continue the search today.
Airman First Class Michael McDonald, 21, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force two years ago. When he was at the Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, he was trained as an aircraft structural maintenance technician and worked in this capacity for more than two years while assigned to the 5th Maintenance Squadron at Minot AFB, according to a press release from Andersen.
While deployed here on Guam, he was assigned to the 36th Maintenance Squadron as a maintenance technician.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Airman McDonald’s family and friends during this tragic event,” said Brig. Gen. Douglas Owens, 36th Wing commander.
Tarague Beach is known for its high surf and dangerous riptides. McDonald was reportedly with four other airmen on Saturday. Two were able to make it to shore safely and one had to be pulled out of the rough waters. According to COMNAVMAR, the four were treated for injuries and released. The search for him was called off Sunday.
When the report of a distressed swimmer got out, a coordinated joint rescue team searched the waters around Tarague Beach.
According to Andersen, the rescue team consisted of the Guam Police Department, the Guam Fire Department and Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Assateague, and the Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 helicopters. Military officials also had a P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa fly over to search for McDonald.
“I’m extremely impressed by the professionalism of all the agencies involved and their ability to quickly coordinate their rescue efforts,” Owens said. “It’s tragic events like these that highlight how well we as a community can work together. Team Andersen is grateful to all those who had a part in the search and rescue and recovery operations.”
Andersen officials said the incident remains under investigation.