Tragedy struck the California coastline on Monday as large waves, under a high surf warning, resulted in one confirmed death and at least one individual reported missing.
Emergency personnel arrived at Sunset State Beach, located in Watsonville, at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday following reports of a man trapped beneath debris, as reported by CBS News and SF Gate. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office reports that a large wave is believed to have pinned him in that location.
A man was rescued and transported to the hospital, where he subsequently died, according to reports.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has yet to provide a response to a request for comment from USA TODAY.
Approximately 30 minutes south, at Marina State Beach, emergency responders from the Marina police and fire departments were dispatched to a water rescue situation around noon on Monday, as reported in a news release from the Marina Police Department.
According to police, initial reports revealed that an adult male was “overcome by high surf and pulled into the water.” According to police reports, bystanders made efforts to assist the individual; however, their attempts were thwarted by the presence of large waves and strong currents.
Authorities from the Marina police department reported that a “extensive search” was carried out with the help of the Coast Guard and the California Highway Patrol Air Unit. However, despite these concerted efforts, the individual remains unaccounted for. Authorities announced the suspension of the search at approximately 2 p.m., citing “worsening conditions that were deemed too dangerous to continue,” according to police statements. The identity of the individual remains undisclosed as authorities continue to investigate the case.
In a dramatic turn of events, heavy surf has led to the partial collapse of a pier in Santa Cruz, resulting in three individuals being plunged into the water.
On Monday, a section of a pier in Santa Cruz gave way and fell into the Pacific Ocean, resulting in three city workers being plunged into the water as high surf battered the coastline.
The Wharf, a public pier located in Santa Cruz, approximately 70 miles south of San Francisco, hosts a variety of restaurants. Emergency responders evacuated and closed the pier shortly after 1 p.m.
According to reports from the Salinas Californian, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, two city workers were rescued by lifeguards, while the third managed to rescue themselves.
Construction crews for the city were dismantling a restaurant situated on the Wharf, which had sustained damage from a storm surge last December. Eyewitnesses reported to local CBS affiliate KION-TV that this was when the collapse took place.
The pier’s damaged section remained closed to the public following prior storm damage, and at the time of the collapse, no members of the public were on-site.
