POMPANO BEACH — Newly obtained 911 audio indicates a man called in an emergency after discovering the body of late NBA star Elden Campbell washed up on the shore of a Florida beach earlier this month, according to a report from TMZ.
Campbell died during what his family called a fishing tragedy in Florida on December 1. He was 57 years old.
A 911 audio call obtained by TMZ on Friday, December 5 hears a caller say he found something that “looks like a human body” washed up on the shore in Pompano Beach.
“It looks like a dead person on the floor,” the caller tells the 911 operator in the audio clip.
Campbell’s body was later discovered by police next to a jet ski along the beach around 8 p.m. local time, the outlet reported. The retired NBA star was pronounced dead minutes later by first responders.
A 911 dispatch call obtained by PEOPLE Friday confirms first responders were sent to Pompano Beach at that time for what was initially called a case of “cardiac arrest.” The dispatcher then says the person was found “deceased.”
Campbell’s official cause of death was ruled to be “due to drowning,” PEOPLE confirmed with Thomas Steinkamp, the chief of investigative services for Broward County, on Thursday.
The former NBA champion, who played played alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers, is survived by his wife, Rosemary, four children: Jay Lee, Jael, Ariel and Aaron, according to the NBA, as well as his siblings: sister Sandra and brothers Elwayne and Charles Jr.
On Wednesday, December 3, Sandra told the New York Post that her brother had been out fishing the day he died. “It was all the sudden,” Sandra said. “He wasn’t sick. He was out fishing.”
Campbell’s sister added that her brother “was such a big pillar and a staple to our family,” telling the Post: “He’s going to be terribly missed.”
The 7-foot power forward played nine seasons with his hometown Lakers, who drafted him 27th overall in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft after playing college basketball with Clemson University.
The Los Angeles native later went on to play the rest of his career with several different NBA teams, including the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets, Seattle SuperSonics, Detroit Pistons and the New Jersey Nets.
He retired after the 2004-05 season with 6,116 rebounds and 10,805 points scored throughout his career, winning the NBA Championship in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons over his former Lakers.
Several former teammates spoke out this week mourning Campbell’s death.
By SEAN NEUMANN and SEAN MANDELL/People
