Delray Beach man dies while surfing

A day at the beach turns deadly for a local young man, out surfing with his friends.

For now, officials are calling it an apparent drowning, but loved ones say he's been surfing since the age of 12 and they don't know how this could have happened.

"It's unbelievable. It's just surreal. It hasn't hit me yet," said Edward Schwerin.

Schwerin still can't believe that his next door neighbor and friend since age 6, is gone. Boca Raton fire rescue says Mathew Latimer died Tuesday from an apparent drowning. It happened while he he was surfing with friends at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton.

"Just an outgoing surfer. He was relaxed, chill, no problem with anybody. Just kind of hang out, let's go to the beach dude," said Schwerin.

According to fire rescue, Latimer's friends lost site of him. By the time he was found, the 22-year-old was underwater and unconscious. Lifeguards and medics performed CPR, but Latimer never responded. He died at Boca Raton Community Hospital. Friends say it happened one day before he was set to go on a surfing trip to Costa Rica.

"He was fine. He was a strong swimmer and a strong surfer," said Schwerin.

Schwerin says he isn't aware of any medical conditions that his friend may have had. So he's left wondering what happened, and missing his buddy.

"He was sa good kid, and a good friend," he said.

An autopsy is set to be performed to determine the exact cause of death.