On Sunday afternoon, just after 3 pm, a 39-year-old man and an 8-year-old boy were swept out to sea by a rip current near Cowell Ranch Beach in San Mateo County, leading to a tragic rescue effort. Despite being brought to Stanford Medical Center, both individuals ultimately died, highlighting the dangers associated with the winter surf conditions in the Bay Area.
David Koons, a 64-year-old Watsonville resident, tragically died after becoming trapped in floating debris while swimming during high surf warnings near Sunset State Beach. Emergency responders were called at 11:30 a.m., but by then, 150 feet of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf had already washed away due to large waves hitting the coastline.
At the time the Wharf collapsed, we were on the Cowell side about one quarter of the way to the end of the Wharf, just getting ready to do another patrol. And that's when something alerted me to look out at the end of the Wharf, which I believe was the cracking of the pilings.