Posted by rebel123 on November 30, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Lesson here people....don't go out on the rocks when the waves are breaking anywhere near them.

Posted by cha on November 30, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Can anyone say "DUH"??

Posted by bjmd2013 on November 30, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

condolences...

but seriously, is it just me or does this headline seem painfully obvious and redundant...like something you'd see in "The Onion." It would be more newsworthy if it said "autopsy shows man who fell into sea mauled by a bear..."

I don't know, I don't mean to make light of the situation, just seems a little remedial for a supposed professional newspaper.

Posted by Hank on November 30, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Are autopsies expensive? Does the public pay for it? If 'yes' on either of these counts, isn't there a better way to spend your money than judging if a guy floating upside down in the ocean drowned?

Posted by smithjc on November 30, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

at first glance it might appear that the headline was written by captain obvious. but when examined more closely, there might be other factors in the death. for example, one could swept against the rocks and be killed by blunt force trauma before getting enough water in the lungs to drown. sometimes the person is killed intentionally before they ever end up in the water (although that doesn't appear to be the case here). in the long run, i would suppose that it doesn't really matter to the victim, any way you slice it, you're still dead.

yes, autopsies are done at public expense. in this county they are done by the medical examiner's office. as i understand it, autopsies are required in all cases of "unnatural" deaths, and those not "expected" (e.g. terminal cancer patients) or not attended by a physician. i think that the idea is to reasonably rule out foul play and, in some cases, try to mitigate liablity on the part of public agencies.

Posted by stormcloud55 on November 30, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's see. I was born at the old St John's hospital in 1959 which means people have been swept off Mugu Rock since at least 1959 which means this story has been redundant since at least 1959!!

Posted by egg on November 30, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In the previous related article the names of the affected were not printed. How soon everyone changes their tone and sympathy the minute the names are Hispanic. just stating the obvious.
I hate all you racist people!

Posted by fmr805 on December 1, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Happy holiday season cold-hearted, racist VC Star readers! BAH,humbug to each of you!

These are human beings who tragically (and yes, neglectfully) lost their lives. May others learn from this and may the family find solace in this time of mourning.