Second tragedy off Big Sur coast when three people swept into ocean, one still missing

Three people climbing on the rocks of the Big Sur coastline were swept into the ocean by rough surf Saturday afternoon, and while two women made it back to shore, a male companion remained missing late Saturday.

The harrowing incident off Soberanes Point comes a week after a father and his 7-year-old daughter were killed in rough waters three miles farther north off Big Sur’s Garrapata Beach.

A search operation for the missing 30-year-old man began Saturday after a call came in at about 3 p.m. from a passerby saying people were in the water and “were yelling for help,” Monterey County Sheriff’s Commander Andres Rosas said.

Numerous agencies responded, including the sheriff’s search and rescue squad, the U.S. Coast Guard, CalFire, CHP, and California State Parks.

“At around 4:24, a Coast Guard helicopter spotted what appeared to be a body in the ocean but, due to the high surf, lost visual,” according to a statement from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department. “They were unable to relocate the body.”

The recovery operation will resume at 7 a.m. Sunday, Rosas said. The two survivors were taken to a local hospital in an unknown condition.

Earlier Saturday, the National Weather Service had issued a “beach hazards” warning, with breaking waves expected to reach 13 to 18 feet from Big Sur to Point Reyes north of San Francisco.

“Sneaker waves can unexpectedly run significantly farther up the beach than normal, including over rocks and jetties,” the weather service statement issued at noon said. The hazardous conditions, caused by a “long period northwesterly swell” were expected to linger through Monday.

On Nov. 14, 39-year-old Yuji Hu of Calgary, Alberta, died after trying to save his 7-year-old daughter who was swept into the ocean at Garrapata State Beach. The child’s mother, attempting to reach her husband and daughter, was also pulled into the surf, but managed to get back to the beach and return to her 2-year-old child. The body of the 7-year-old was recovered by a search diver two days later.