November 26th, 4:11 p.m. Following a harrowing 22-hour search, the Coast Guard announced that the 5-year-old girl, who was previously rescued, has tragically passed away after being brought to a hospital. The search for the 54-year-old man has been called off as well.
“The decision to suspend search efforts is one of the hardest decisions to make, but our crews searched for nearly 24 hours without any sightings of the missing person,” said Capt. Jordan Baldueza, deputy commander, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this very tragic event.”
November 26th, 7:16 a.m. A man and a young child were swept into Half Moon Bay on Saturday amid a sneaker wave warning issued for parts of the California coast. The 5-year-old girl was found safely, but the 54-year-old man remains missing.
The pair was reported in danger around 2 p.m. Saturday, prompting the response of San Mateo County firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard to Martin’s Beach. Firefighters successfully rescued the girl, who was then taken to a local hospital for treatment. The Coast Guard took over the search for the missing man, utilizing boats and a helicopter to scour the coast, even extending their search all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The California coast, encompassing Point Reyes to Big Sur, has been under a beach hazards advisory throughout the weekend. The National Weather Service cautioned beachgoers to “remain out of the water” due to the possibility of “large, unexpected waves,” particularly along west to northwest-facing beaches.
