Body found near Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay identified as 18-year-old Hayward teen: coroner

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KTVU) - The San Mateo County Coroner on Tuesday identified the body found over the weekend by the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay as 18-year-old Naphtali 'Moi Moi' Fainau, 18, of Hayward. 

This confirms the fears of those who had worried about the teen, who was boogie boarding and was swept out to sea.

He had been with classmates from Hayward High school when he went with a group of friends to Poplar Beach on April 18. His friends saw him start to struggle and his body was seen floating face down shortly thereafter, but friends couldn’t reach him because of the conditions.

He was described as a gifted football player. The defensive tackle had a full ride scholarship to the University of Wyoming. Moi Moi was known as the baby of the family.