US Coast Guard lifeguard dies in drowning accident

A U.S. Coast Guard lifeguard drowned after an accident Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Phoenix Hanna, 29, of Point Mugu, died of blunt force trauma to the base of the skull and drowning, according to the Ventura County Coroner’s Office. The office ruled his death an accident.

Lt. SondraKay Kneen, a Coast Guard spokeswoman, confirmed that Hanna was a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Hanna was off-duty when the accident occurred, Kneen said.

She did not confirm whether Hanna’s death was related to Tuesday morning’s postponement of the commissioning ceremony for the new Coast Guard airfield at Naval Station Ventura County.