The California surfer who went missing two weeks ago in Northern Baja, Mexico, has been found dead.
Adam Francis D'Esposito suffered from bipolar disorder and was last seen by the owner of a surf shop running down a highway shirtless, barefoot, and looking scared.
The Mexican authorities recovered his body on September 9. He was taken to the Rosarito morgue, where the coroner confirmed the cause of death as drowning.
The 39-year-old surfer from Carlsbad was a familiar face in several surf spots in the San Diego area. D'Esposito was also passionate about Teahupoo.
"Adam was a very charismatic person with a big heart, passionate personality, and a deep love for surfing," said Briana D'Esposito, Adam's brother.
"He had a huge heart for his young daughter and enjoyed spending so much time with her in his last few months."
According to his family, Adam borrowed a silver Volvo station wagon from his father and drove to Baja California. He said he would be back soon.
"He struggled with mental illness, and we did our best to get him help. Life is not always easy. People struggle with themselves, and you never exactly know what they're going through," added Briana.
D'Esposito was a dedicated father of a six-year-old girl. He was also an accomplished surfer.
In 2011, Adam survived a shark attack in Tahiti. Two years later, he earned a Wipeout of the Year nomination.
D'Esposito's family and friends will hold a paddle-out in his memory.