Emergency services in California are continuing their search for a 30-year-old man who was dragged into the Pacific Ocean by a powerful wave at the same beach where a father and his young daughter lost their lives just over a week earlier.
Double Tragedy at Garapata State Beach
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon near Soberanes Point at Garapata State Beach, a picturesque but dangerous stretch of coastline in Big Sur. According to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, the man was visiting the beach with three companions when disaster struck.
The man and two women were standing on rocks near the shoreline when an unexpectedly large wave crashed into them, pulling all three into the turbulent waters. While the two women managed to swim back to safety and were transported to hospital with unspecified injuries, the man was swept away from the shore.
Tragically, this incident occurred merely half a mile from where seven-year-old girl and her father, Yuji Hu, were caught in a similar wave on November 14. In that earlier tragedy, Mr Hu attempted to rescue his daughter but was overcome by the ocean and died. The child's body was recovered two days later.
Search Efforts and Dangerous Conditions
Around 4:30 pm on Saturday, a US Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted the missing man's body floating approximately 300 feet offshore but lost sight of it in the challenging ocean conditions. "They were unable to recover it at that time," confirmed Commander Andres Rosas of the sheriff's department.
Search operations resumed on Sunday with an extensive team including:
- The sheriff's search and rescue unit
- Cal Fire personnel
- California State Parks officials
- California Highway Patrol
- Coast Guard vessels and helicopters
- Drone teams
The missing man is described as South Asian, last seen wearing a white turban, black shorts, a black shirt, and a black vest. His identity has not been publicly released.
Warnings About Deadly 'Sneaker Waves'
The National Weather Service has repeatedly issued warnings about the danger of "sneaker waves" – large, unexpected waves that can surge much higher up the shoreline than normal waves, catching beachgoers completely off guard.
"The water can look safe and then that one sneaker wave or rogue wave can come in and that's the one that catches people off guard," explained Commander Rosas, highlighting the unpredictable nature of these coastal conditions.
According to weather officials, waves near Big Sur measured between 8 and 10 feet high on Saturday afternoon, with a beach hazard statement predicting waves could reach between 13 to 18 feet through Monday.
Yellow warning signs at Garapata State Beach alert visitors to the potential for unexpected, extremely dangerous waves and currents. Authorities emphasise that swimming, climbing on rocks, and wading along the shoreline are not safe activities in this area, particularly during periods of heightened wave activity.
This second tragedy within days at the same location has highlighted the critical importance of heeding coastal safety warnings, even when conditions appear calm to the untrained eye.
