A fisherman in California was swept into the Pacific Ocean by a large “sneaker” wave on Tuesday and faced a dire situation.
Bay Cadotte, who lives in Pacifica, was fishing on a beach in the Bay Area when a wave knocked him off balance, pushing him about 30 feet away from the shore.
Other fishermen nearby jumped in to help and successfully pulled the woman from the water. Thankfully, she only suffered minor injuries, which she described as “sea whiplash,” along with a harrowing experience.
Cadotte recalled realizing that she wouldn’t escape the waves when she first saw them. “It swallowed me up so easily,” she shared.
When the water grabbed her, she ditched her fishing waders, fearing they might have filled up and weighed her down. Cadotte mentioned she fought to crawl out of the surf, focusing on survival in what felt like her last moments. “[I was] praying in my heart, ‘Please don’t get carried away by this tide,'” she posted on Facebook.
A fisherman, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted how he risked his life to rescue her. “We fishermen stand together,” he said, reflecting on the danger he faced. “I could have died, but I saved her life.”
Paramedics arrived shortly after the rescue effort.
Cadotte, optimistic about her recovery, expressed eagerness to return to fishing—although she’ll be wearing a life jacket next time. “The sea is not our friend. The sea has no mercy,” she emphasized, advocating for the reopening of the recently closed Pacifica Municipal Pier. “Piers save lives.”
Fishing is deeply woven into her life, as Cadotte asserted, “This is our life. We’re doing this to eat. We’re doing this to survive.”
Pacifica, located in San Mateo County, is a coastal city in the Bay Area.
