Authorities are searching for 18-year-old Sixth College freshman Daniel Lee Cho, who was reported missing at 2 a.m. on April 14. It is believed that he was carried away from shore by a strong rip current off La Jolla Shores State Beach while wading in shallow water.

Two female friends were also in the water and were barely able to get to shore safely. The women reportedly tried to rescue Cho, but were nearly carried off by the current themselves.

The search went from “rescue mode” to “recovery mode” at 4 p.m. on April 14, according to lifeguard lieutenant Brant Bass.

“If we didn’t find him in the first hour, the chances of survival are very slim,” Bass said.

Lifeguards, coast guard and San Diego police and fire departments worked throughout the early morning and day, recruiting divers, helicopters and rescue boats to search for Cho. The divers faced poor visibility from the strong current. Recovery efforts were minimized to boats and helicopters regularly patrolling the area. Bass said the effort may continue on April 15, depending on surf conditions.

According to San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Maurice Luque, the strong current could have pulled Cho as far north as Scripps Pier.

“There’s a terrible current right where they went out,” Luque said.

The two women have not been identified at press time. One was treated for hypothermia.

Cho’s family, of Somis, Calif., was immediately notified of his disappearance by authorities. His family, as well as Sixth College Provost Gabriele Wienhausen, spent most of the day at La Jolla Shores, according to UC spokeswoman Dolores Davies.

“The whole Sixth College community is very saddened by his disappearance … [it] is absolutely devastated,” Davies said.

Psychological & Counseling Services have begun to speak with Cho’s friends. Counselors can be reached Mondays through Fridays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. by calling (858) 534-3755. After hours, counselors can be reached through campus police at (858) 534-HELP.