The body of former WWE Superstar Shad Gaspard was found on Venice Beach, California on May 20, three days after he had gone missing during a swim with his son Aryeh. In his final act, Gaspard instructed the lifeguards to save his son at the cost of his own life.
On May 17, Shad and his 10-year-old son Aryeh Gaspard were swimming 50 yards off the coast of the newly reopened Marina Del Rey beach when they were caught in a rip current and pulled out to sea. When the lifeguards arrived, Gaspard selflessly told them to rescue Aryeh. After getting his son safely ashore, the lifeguards returned for Gaspard, but he disappeared under the waves before they could rescue him.
“A wave pushed him under in the impact zone,” said Kenichi Haskett, Section Chief of the LA County Fire Department – Lifeguard Division. “He didn’t resurface after that.” Rescue divers and the U.S. Coast Guard spent nearly two days searching for Gaspard before suspending their efforts.
Shad Gaspard previously rose to fame in 2006 as one half of the popular WWE tag team ‘Cryme Tyme’ alongside his partner, former WWE Superstar JTG. After leaving the WWE in 2010, Gaspard took up acting, appearing in films such as Think Like A Man Too and Get Hard. A devoted husband and father, Gaspard was also respected by his friends and associates for his humor and warm personality and in 2016, Gaspard showed off his heroic nature by stopping an armed robbery, pinning down the suspect until the police arrived.
WWE is saddened to learn that former WWE Superstar Shad Gaspard has passed away at the age of 39. https://t.co/ngyuRpkjps
— WWE (@WWE) May 20, 2020
The entire professional wrestling world has since mourned Shad Gaspard’s passing and expressed condolences for his family and friends. The WWE released a tweet with an article mourning Gaspard which read: “WWE is saddened to learn that former WWE Superstar Shad Gaspard has passed away at the age of 39.”
— JTG ( JAY THA GAWD ) (@Jtg1284) May 19, 2020
Gaspard’s fellow ‘Cryme Tyme’ partner JTG took to Twitter to share a screenshot of the last conversation they had. Shad said, “If ever I die tomorrow just know I Love you as a brother and friend for ever, even past this life,” and JTG replied, “Love you too brotha.”
Shad Gaspard was 39 when he passed and is survived by his wife Siliana Gaspard and their son Aryeh, who he truly loved more than life itself. Rest in Peace Shad Gaspard.
