Mother Shares Son Randall 'Randy' Miod's Last Words Before His Tragic Death in California Wildfire – Details

The surfer, a beloved resident of Malibu, California, was well-known in the community for his vibrant spirit, uplifting presence, and constant encouragement to those around him.

Randall "Randy" Miod's mother, Carol Smith, has recounted the details of their final conversation before his passing. Miod also left her a heartfelt message that she will forever cherish deeply.

Smith, who lives in Banning, noted that her son would always call when a fire broke out. So, when the Palisades fire started on January 7, Miod called his mom, almost in tears. Smith urged him to take his cat and go to a shelter, but he chose to stay.

She shared, "I've worried so much about him because, in all the fires that he's been through, he never evacuated any of them. He always stayed. He always felt that he could hose the house down with his hose."

Sadly, he didn't survive the fire this time and was found dead on January 8 behind his Malibu home. Miod was trying to protect his house, which his mom called his "prized possession, but his efforts proved futile against the raging flames.

"They did the autopsy, and he had enough lung tissue left to determine that he died from smoke inhalation and thermal heat," Smith disclosed.

Smith added that Miod likely never realized what happened, as detectives explained that a fire of this nature can overpower a person instantly, leaving no time to react.

Miod was Smith's only child with her ex-husband. She shared that the day before he died, he had made a second call and left a voicemail, which reiterated their last conversation together. The surfer had urged his mom to pray for Palisades and Malibu, adding, "I love you."

Smith, who said that her son was an avid surfer and skateboarder since his youth days, noted, "I have that message, and I will keep it forever." She looked back at his younger days, recalling how her son's passion for the beach often led him to skip school, prompting her to hide his surfboard at one point.

Miod then relocated to Malibu in his 20s and rented a studio attached to a home. Eventually, the owner of the studio sold him the house, where he enjoyed living and having an open-door policy for his friends. The lifestyle at the beach suited him, and he partied a lot, as his mother shared, "He was the party."

Miod also had other passions. He pursued a degree in photography from Santa Monica City College and worked professionally in the field. His work once took him to Canada at the request of Pamela Anderson, who wanted him to photograph a property she was considering purchasing.

In Malibu, he was loved by his community. Smith gushed, "He loved life, he loved people. He was like a people magnet. Everybody in Malibu knew him. I mean, he's beyond a legend there. He's almost iconic." As much as he was in contact with many celebrities in the area, he treated everybody equally, remaining humble and unpretentious.

At Duke's, a renowned restaurant in Malibu, Miod's legacy is likely to be honored with a prominent photo displayed alongside other legendary surfers from the area.

Despite the challenges of living on the Pacific Coast Highway, where passing vehicles often collided with his residence and cars, Miod cherished his home deeply. Although he faced difficulties in the last year, including job loss, surgery, and the death of his beloved cat, he was unwavering in his attachment to the house.

His mother urged him to sell the property and move somewhere safer, but she understood why he couldn't. She revealed that due to his love for surfing, a home in Malibu was a dream come true for Miod. "That was his life, he was not going to leave that home, because he had so many good memories there," Smith admitted.

The 55-year-old son has left behind a legacy of love and deep connections with friends who cherished him. Though he never married or had children, he always desired to find a good Christian partner. He was also known for his kindness and affection, especially toward children.

"There's not one person that I know that has anything negative to say about him — nobody. So I'm proud that he turned out in the end like the person that he did. I'll have some really good memories of him, starting from day one," Smith noted.

Miod's friends have nothing but praise for him. His community had nicknamed him "The Crab Shack," due to his hospitality in his red barn-style home built in 1924. Other people called him "The Craw" due to the natural inward curve of his arms, which reminded people of the shape of a crawfish. Miod was also referred to as "The Malibu Man of Mystery."

He welcomed his friends, mostly surfers, to his home whenever they needed a break from surfing. He even hosted some for the night and had only one rule: for people to bring in good vibes. Todd Procter, Miod's friend, expressed, "He loved people. You hear that word thrown around, but he really did."

Procter and the surfer first met him on the water when he was only 12. Miod gave Procter advice that shaped his future just after he had graduated high school and wondered if he should go to college. He told his friend, "Well that's easy, you need to quit school and make boards man. This is what you're supposed to do."

In the years Miod lived in his house, he endured various natural disasters, including mudslides, fires, and tsunami warnings. Despite previous close calls, such as when a massive boulder narrowly missed his home during a rock slide, he didn't evacuate when the Palisades Fire erupted.

Ultimately, Miod didn't survive. What remains of his home is a singed garden chair, likely one he sat on during the many nights spent with his friends. Now, Procter has expressed gratitude, acknowledging how Miod had brightened his life and encouraged him, as well as bringing positivity to everyone around him.

Miod's life is among the 24 fatalities of the ongoing California wildfires, which have scorched 40,644 acres and destroyed over 12,000 structures. Four major fires are active, including the Palisades fire, whose containment is at 18 percent at the time of publication.

Auto fire is at 47 percent containment, Eaton at 35 percent, and Hurst at 97 percent at the time of this publication. Firefighters continue their efforts to contain the devastating blazes.