In yet another incident in a string of recent tragic events for surfers and other ocean users, local surfer John M. Wagner, age 43 of Rancho Penasquitos, died for unknown reasons while surfing with friends off Santa Cruz Island, which is part of the Channel Islands National Park. His friends said he had disappeared from sight as they were surfing. His body was recovered with no signs of life about 20 miles south of Ventura Harbor.