The man found underwater and attached to a surfboard Thursday afternoon lived in Santa Barbara, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau.

A cause of death was pending for 45-year-old Vincent Ian Posner, Sheriff’s Office public information officer Raquel Zick said Friday.

The incident began as an ocean rescue at approximately 1:45 p.m. Thursday when personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, California State Parks, the Sheriff’s Office and American Medical Response were dispatched to the scene about three-fourths of a mile west of Refugio Beach, County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said.

Authorities were alerted about a surfboard 100 yards offshore near the kelp bed.

A crew from County Air Support Unit Copter 308, flying over the area, located the surfboard and guided personnel aboard a rescue watercraft to the location.

An adult male was found below the surface of the water attached to the surfboard’s leash, Safechuck said.

The victim was transported by rescue watercraft to Refugio State Beach and pronounced deceased, Safechuck added.