Things took a dark turn Sunday afternoon about a mile off the Malibu pier. 

The pilot of a helicopter reported that his passenger had climbed out of the cockpit and jumped out. According to reports, the side door of the helicopter had been removed for a photo shoot.

The pilot made a futile attempt to keep the man from jumping by putting the chopper into a banking turn. The man was able to jump anyway and lifeguards immediately rushed to the scene. Although the man was brought to shore and paramedics tried to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man’s name is currently being withheld as the coroner’s office is trying to notify next of kin.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the death.