California authorities are still searching for a 30-year-old man who went missing after being swept to sea along California’s rugged Big Sur coast.
The man, who has not yet been identified, was carried away from the rocky coastline along with two other women just after 3 P.M. on November 22 at Soberanes Point in Garrapata State Park. The two women were able to self-rescue and were transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities described the man as wearing a white turban with black clothes. Multiple agencies were deployed to assist in the rescue on land, by air, and at sea, including California State Parks, CalFire, California Highway Patrol, Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, and the Coast Guard.
“At around 4:24 P.M., a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter spotted what appeared to be a body in the ocean but due to the high surf, lost visual. They were unable to relocate the body,” wrote the sheriff’s office on Facebook. Search efforts continued until the evening, when they were suspended.
“High winds and unsafe water conditions have hindered search efforts, limiting the ability of divers to conduct underwater operations.”
The incident echoes a fatal accident just a week prior that claimed the lives of a man, 39, and his seven-year-old daughter, who were also swept into the ocean by 15- to 20-foot waves in the same area. Her mother was also pulled into the sea but helped to shore by an off-duty lifeguard, California State Parks wrote on its website.
With two miles of beachfront and coastal hiking, Garrapata State Park is a popular destination for beachgoers and hikers alike. But California’s coast is prone to sneaker waves, potentially deadly waves that can surge far out along a beach, easily overtaking people. There can be up to 20 minutes of small waves before a sneaker wave strikes, potentially bringing with it large rocks and heavy debris that may also injure beachgoers.
A beach hazard statement for the state’s central and northern coast was issued on November 24. It warned of breaking waves between 13 and 18 feet, as well as an increased risk for sneaker waves and rip currents.
“Sneaker waves can unexpectedly run significantly farther up the beach than normal, including over rocks and jetties. Rip currents are typically more frequent and stronger in the vicinity of jetties, inlets, and piers,” wrote the National Weather Service in its advisory.
As dangerous conditions persist, especially in the winter months, officials remind people to stay out of the water, avoid swimming in rough conditions, and never turn their backs to the ocean.
“We remind everyone that there is a current beach hazards warning in our area. The public is asked to stay off rocks and back from the waters’ edge. Ocean waves are unpredictable and pose a safety hazard to the public,” said the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.
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