The man died Thursday, authorities said. The man was declared dead in the hospital, as the dog made it out of the living sea.
Northern California beaches are famous for their strong rifts, strong waves and ice temperatures that have earned them the reputation of California’s most deadly beach.
Thursday’s incident unfolded shortly after 2pm when the San Francisco Fire Department tried to save the dog and then received a call saying he collapsed in the waters of Ocean Beach near Lawton Street. Two women on the beach saw the man struggle and pulled him out of the sea, firefighters said.
The National Park Service’s marine rescue crew arrived within two minutes and began playing CPR. Firefighters took the man to the hospital in danger, and he was dead, authorities said.
The dog arrived at the beach independently without any serious injuries, firefighters said. The man’s identity has not been announced, and his official cause of death has been pending investigation from the San Francisco medical inspector’s office.
The San Francisco Fire Department thanked two bystanders for their heroic efforts, but the best thing to do when humans and animals need rescue is to call 911 and ensure that trained professionals can respond to dangerous situations on the beach.
“This is the largest beach here in San Francisco, with multiple deaths and multiple saves by members and National Park Service lifeguards.
Eight people died on the beach between 2014 and 2020, according to surf zone lethal data collected by the National Weather Service.
Kirby Lee, an experienced San Francisco surfer and father of two, was found to be floating unconsciously on the water in November 2023, and was given life support at the hospital where he passed away four days later.
In July, the San Francisco Fire Department rescued two surfers near the Mile Rocks lighthouse after a powerful RIP current pulled them into the ocean almost a mile.
Swimming is highly discouraged at Ocean Beach as people are swept away by the ocean with just three feet of water, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. People are being warned to stay away from the coastline as there is a possibility of “sneaker waves.”
“The waves of sneakers are inherently insidious. They don’t present themselves as easily as on high surf days,” the fire department said in a coastal safety warning. “This is what makes them so deadly.”
Despite the dangerous circumstances, there are no traditional lifeguards stationed along the 3-mile beach. Instead, Ocean Rescue personnel regularly patrol Ocean Beaches to inform visitors of marine risks and provide rescues if necessary.
Many deaths must urge calls to add lifeguard posts, but National Park Service officials argue that doing so will provide the false and dangerous impression that Ocean Beach is a swimming beach.
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