Newly released 911 audio sheds light on the shocking discovery of former NBA star Elden Campbell’s body on a Florida beach earlier this month.
Campbell, 57, tragically died during what his family described as a fishing accident in Pompano Beach on December 1. The 911 call, obtained by TMZ, captures a caller reporting that he found something that “looks like a human body” washed up on the shore. “It looks like a dead person on the floor,” the caller tells the dispatcher.
Authorities later confirmed Campbell’s body was found near a jet ski on the beach around 8 p.m., and first responders pronounced him dead minutes after arriving. A 911 dispatch obtained by PEOPLE initially labeled the incident as a “cardiac arrest” before confirming the person was “deceased.”
According to Broward County’s chief of investigative services, Thomas Steinkamp, Campbell’s death was officially ruled a drowning.
Campbell, a towering 7-foot power forward, played nine seasons with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, teaming up with legends like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Drafted 27th overall in 1990 after starring at Clemson University, he later played for several other NBA teams, including the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets, Seattle SuperSonics, Detroit Pistons, and New Jersey Nets. He retired after the 2004-05 season with 10,805 career points and 6,116 rebounds, having won an NBA Championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
Family members have shared heartfelt tributes in the wake of his passing. His sister Sandra told the New York Post, “It was all so sudden. He wasn’t sick. He was out fishing.” She added, “He was such a big pillar and a staple to our family. He’s going to be terribly missed.”
Campbell is survived by his wife, Rosemary, four children—Jay Lee, Jael, Ariel, and Aaron—and his siblings Sandra, Elwayne, and Charles Jr. Several former teammates and colleagues have also expressed their grief, remembering Campbell not just as a player, but as a beloved friend and mentor.