On Saturday, a man and two women were caught by waves at a beach in California, leading to the man’s presumed death after he fell into the ocean. This incident is unfortunately reminiscent of a tragedy just a week earlier, where a father and his 7-year-old daughter drowned in a similar event at the same park, according to officials.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office reported that the trio was on the rocks at Soberanes Point in Garrapata State Park around 3 p.m. when a wave knocked them into the water. Bystanders heard their cries for help.
Luckily, the two women were able to swim back to shore and were taken to a hospital for evaluation, though their specific conditions weren’t released immediately.
A Coast Guard helicopter located what seemed to be a body around 4:30 p.m. but could not reach it due to hazardous surf conditions. Efforts to recover the body were unsuccessful at that time.
The man who is missing is believed to be around 30 years old, last seen wearing a white turban, a black shirt, black shorts, and a vest-like jacket.
Search and recovery operations were paused Saturday night due to darkness and unsafe conditions, then resumed on Sunday morning. Despite the efforts from dive teams and drones, strong winds and rough water made the search difficult. Recovery operations were halted again overnight, but plans were in place to continue on Monday.
Authorities have urged the public to stay away from the Soberanes Point area, advising against venturing onto the rocky shores or entering the ocean at all.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that conditions remain hazardous and a beach hazard statement is still in effect.
In the previous week, waves reaching 15 to 20 feet had swept a 39-year-old father and his young daughter out to sea. Tragically, both lost their lives, and their bodies were later recovered.
