Evan McMillen, who is remembered for his infectious smile, in and out of the water, died in a surfing accident at Salt Creek
Evan McMillen, a 21-year-old Dana Hills High graduate, died on Sunday, Jan. 15 after a surfing accident at Salt Creek Beach. He is survived by his mother Tomi, father Dave, twin brother Eian Patrick and big sister Erin McMillen.
Always a competitive and driven surfer, bodyboarder and baseball player, Evan McMillen strived to do his best in everything he set his mind to. Friends and family of Evan remember him as a caring mentor and skilled waterman.
“When Evan and Eian were born—they were identical twins—they had daredevil in their blood,” Erin said. “Evan was always going for it; even at the age of 1, he would be ready to roll down the stairs in a hamper.”
“They were always just causing trouble in the most energetic way possible,” Erin continued.
Evan was rambunctious from the time he was born, his uncle, Christopher Luntsford said.
“A happy-go-lucky, super loving kid,” Luntsford said. “Super caring, just an amazing boy and young man. Always there for his brother, his friends and his family. Very humble and often revered really by everybody.”
At 5 years old, Evan and Eian would make a beeline to the water every time the family took a trip to the beach.
“It was like letting two dogs loose, and we would have to get lifejackets on them somehow because they were just ready to be in that water,” Erin said. “They love the water so much.”
“As Evan grew up, he should have had gills by now because he was in the water more than he was on land,” Erin continued. “He loved the water. He loved baseball and he loved the good world. He was such a great person.”
At 7, Evan would take his little boogie board to Baby Beach.
“He would bring one even though he knew there was no waves because he just wanted to paddle around on it,” Erin said. “That stuck with him and it just became a routine. It would be Christmas day and he’s like ‘I don’t want to open presents, I want to go to the beach and bodyboard.’ ”
Evan was always incredibly driven at everything he put his mind to, Erin said.
“He was so committed to things,” Erin said. “It could even be playing a simple board game when he was a little kid. If he didn’t win, it was game over. He had to win things and that really stuck with him through growing up.”
His competitive spirit fueled his approach to pitching on the Dana Hills High School baseball team.
“When it came to competition, he was fierce,” Dana Hills High coach and Athletic Director Tom Faris said. “He really wanted to compete and was kind of the fighter on our team. He was the kid that wanted to get after it. He was just a pleasure to coach and just a really great kid.”
“Some of his abilities as a pitcher are some of the things I won’t forget,” Faris continued. “But probably more importantly is just his personality and that smile that he had. He just always had a grin on his face, unless he was competing, he was just always so happy.”
Evan graduated from Dana Hills High in 2020. Following graduation, Evan had floated the idea of becoming a firefighter or EMT, but his primary focus, Erin said, was on growing his bodyboarding skills.
Ever the caring mentor, looking to spread his love of bodyboarding and surfing, Luntsford added that Evan will be remembered for his passion for teaching others that were less fortunate than him.
Erin added that many people have reached out to tell her that Evan made them a better person.
“He taught so many people how to, not only play baseball, but how to bodyboard too,” Erin said. “He helps people grow and develop their skills too. Both baseball and bodyboarding, he was a teacher and he brought love everywhere he went.”
“He just wanted to spread the love everywhere he could,” Erin continued.
Community members gather at Salt Creek Beach on Monday, Jan. 16, to mourn the loss of Evan McMillen, a local bodyboarder who died on Sunday, Jan. 15, after a surfing accident. Mourners lit candles, laid flowers and signed caring notes to his bodyboard. Photos: Courtesy of James Harvey, Zach Waters, Gavin Pellkofer
When Evan received a sponsorship from Hubboards, he was eager to share his equipment with fellow bodyboarders.
“He just got so much gear from them and he would give it away to people who didn’t have it and people were just so blessed to know him,” Erin said.
“He worked so hard and tried so hard, and like I said, with his competitive energy, he wanted a sponsorship,” Erin continued. He wanted to be big. He wanted to be great at something and he earned that 100%, that sponsorship with Hubboard.”
Evan began working at Jon’s Fish Market in June 2020. So many other young staff members looked up to Evan, owner Shala Manseur said.
“He was definitely the pillar of Jon’s, he was a pillar of the company and I can see that even more today because the house has crumbled,” Manseur said.
All the other staff members who Evan worked with are devastated by the this past weekend’s tragedy, Manseur said.
According to Luntsford, a couple walking along the beach noticed that there was a surfboard in the whitewater, not moving. That was when they noticed Evan, face down in the water, Luntsford said.
Luntsford added that when the couple pulled Evan out of the water, they noticed he was bleeding from the back of his head and started performing CPR.
“I’d like to thank the first responders, as in the couple that identified him and pulled him out of the water, I don’t know their names,” Luntford said. “The lady walking by who was recertified in CPR that helped out, the critical care nurse that showed up and tried to help. Really want to thank them for all that they did.”
The Orange County Fire Authority responded to a call at 1:01 p.m. for an adult male in cardiac arrest, according to OCFA. Paramedics performed CPR and transported him to the hospital.
On Monday, Jan. 16, community members gathered at Salt Creek Beach where they lit candles, laid flowers and signed caring notes to his bodyboard.
“That was so beautiful,” Erin said of the vigil. “It was set up so last minute by friends and then the family started spreading it around. I feel like the entire city of Dana Point was there. It wasn’t that big but you felt the love.”
As mourners started to arrive at the beach around 4:15 p.m., it was cold, windy and sprinkling, Erin said. Then, suddenly, a double rainbow appeared.
“This gorgeous double rainbow comes out of nowhere and everyone who was there at the time was just crying and embracing,” Erin said. “It felt like he was right there with it. It was truly beautiful.”
“Everyone has a different idea of what it resembled, some people say it was a twin rainbow resembling Evan and his twin brother Eian,” Erin continued. “Whatever they personally think it resembles, it was just amazing, warmed a lot of people’s hearts.”
Over the last week, a memorial has popped up at Jon’s Fish Market with a wall dedicated to Evan.
“We painted a wall and signed a couple of his bodyboards,” Manseur said. “We have a bodyboard that is available for anybody to come down and sign. They can sign the wall. We’ve dedicated a whole wall inside the dining room to him.”
Erin added that regulars at Jon’s Fish Market have said Evan made their day when he served them.
“They said that it wasn’t the food that fed them, it was his soul and his spirit and just his kindness that really filled them up,” Erin said.
Evan connected with everyone that he was around, Manseur said.
“His smile, oh my god he had a million-dollar smile,” Manseur said.
James Harvey, Zach Waters and Gavin Pellkofer all met Evan and his twin brother in middle school.
Harvey met the twins out in the water at Salt Creek Beach.
“We would always kind of bash heads and really thought we were better than one another but he was always out there and I always looked up to him growing up,” Harvey said. “We just became good friend over love of the ocean.”
Harvey added that he and Evan would chat at school and out on the water.
“He was that kind of individual that had an impact on you that was positive,” Harvey said. “Always had a contagious laugh and smile. His demeanor and personality was one that you really couldn’t turn away.”
“He always seemed to strive to make everyone around him better, he made sure you laughed no matter what,” Harvey continued. “He always brought a smile to your face. He was just that kind of person. He was a people person to say the least.”
Waters and Evan played baseball together at Dana Hills High. The two met in middle school but became close in high school, Waters said.
Looking back, Waters said that Evan gave it his all and put in the work to get better at the sport.
“He never stopped trying to be the best that he could,” Waters said.
Evan McMillen is remembered as a caring mentor and skilled waterman. He had recently earned a sponsorship for bodyboarding from Hubboards. Photo: Courtesy of Erin McMillen
Older sister Erin McMillen remembers taking Evan and twin brother Eian McMillen to the beach. The twins would make a beeline for the water as fast as they could. Photo: Courtesy of Erin McMillen
Evan McMillen is survived by his twin brother Eian (far left), mother Tomi (second from left) and older sister Erin McMillen (far right). Photo: Courtesy of Erin McMillen
“He just never wasted a day, he always did everything he could, as much he could until nighttime came,” Waters continued. “Everything he did was with a purpose.”
Pellkofer said he and Evan’s friendship flourished on the water.
“We both grew up surfing Salt Creek, all three of us, myself and his brother Eian,” Pellkofer said. “I’ll always remember Evan from our surfing and our trips together.”
Pellkofer added that Evan will be remembered for his contagious smile, his laughter, hard work and his perseverance in the water.
“He’s definitely going to be known as one of the best bodyboard watermen coming out of Southern California for this time,” Pellkofer said. “That’s really important to me to keep that legacy going and just keep his name out there.”
When Pellkofer heard about Evan’s passing, he was in disbelief, he said.
“Evan was the most physically and mentally fit and prepared waterman in our whole crew, group of surfers,” Pellkofer said. “He’s the last person that you would expect to get hurt.”
“Me and him and a couple other friends were just surfing Seal Beach when it was 8-foot and really big and gnarly,” Pellkofer continued. “For this to happen at Salt Creek, on a smaller day is just unreal.”
During City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, Councilmember Matthew Pagano concluded his council comments by asking the community to keep Evan and his family in their thoughts and prayers.
The McMillen family plans to host a celebration of life sometime around Eian and Evan’s birthday, which is on Feb. 9.
Luntsford launched a GoFundMe to raise funds for Evan’s family and to help with the unexpected expenses for a memorial. Luntsford is also launching a foundation to help carry Evan’s legacy of teaching surfing, bodyboarding and ocean safety.
Erin added that she wanted to thank the community for the overwhelming support and love that the family has received.
“I would definitely say for all of us, thank you to all who sent us love and support during these tough times,” Erin said. “We are so overwhelmed and we’re so grateful for everybody.”