close
close

Atlanta father drowns after jumping off cliff into ocean off California – WSB-TV Channel 2

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — An Atlanta man drowned earlier this month when he jumped off a cliff and into the ocean for fun.

Hans Materne, 45, was found unconscious in the water in Santa Cruz, California on June 5, according to KSBW-TV.

(DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for breaking news alerts)

His wife wrote in an online fundraiser that Materne was spending the day at the beach when he decided to jump into the ocean from a cliff, something locals often do.

She says the current caught Materne and he drowned.

When his body was found, Santa Cruz County deputies said they tried to save his life but were unsuccessful.

TRENDING STORIES:

“Hans was an incredible father, husband and friend. I will never forget our time together,” his wife wrote online.

The community rallied around his family and raised more than $10,000 in an effort to bring his body back to Atlanta so he could be buried.

(SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Newsletter)

IN OTHER NEWS:

This browser does not support the video element.