Distressing audio from a 911 emergency call has been released, capturing the moment a passerby discovered the body of NBA legend Elden Campbell washed up on a Florida beach. The former Los Angeles Lakers champion tragically died on Monday at the age of 57.
Harrowing 911 Call Details Beach Discovery
The call, obtained by media outlet TMZ, features a stunned man reporting to the operator that he saw something on the shore that "looks like a human body." Initially uncertain, the caller then used his camera to zoom in on the scene, confirming his fears. "It looks like a dead person on the floor," he is heard telling the dispatcher.
Police were reportedly dispatched to the location and arrived at the scene around 8pm. There, they found the body of Elden Campbell alongside a jet ski on the beach.
From Medical Emergency to Accidental Drowning
Initial reports from the athlete's family indicated a different sequence of events. His sister, Sandra, told The New York Post that the former NBA champion had been out on the water but suffered a medical emergency after returning to land.
However, Florida authorities provided a crucial update on Thursday, introducing a new twist to the case. They officially ruled that Campbell's cause of death was an accidental drowning.
A Basketball Legacy Cut Short
Elden Campbell enjoyed a distinguished 15-season career in the NBA, most famously with the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won a championship in 2000. Standing at 6 feet 11 inches, the centre was known for his defensive prowess and was a key figure for several teams throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
His sudden death at the age of 57 has sent waves of grief through the basketball community and among fans who remember his contributions to the sport. Tributes have poured in for the player remembered as a gentle giant off the court and a formidable competitor on it.
Authorities continue their investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the tragic incident on the Florida coast.
