A day at the coast turned into a nightmare when a mother and child were dragged out to sea by a deadly “sneaker wave” — a sudden surge of water that strikes without warning
WAVE WARNING
Mother & child fighting for life being after dragged out to sea by deadly ‘sneaker wave’ that killed 2 girls days before
A MUM and child are fighting for their lives after being dragged into the ocean by a sneaker wave – just days after two girls were killed in similar circumstances.
Emergency crews raced to Baker Beach in San Francisco following reports that a woman and a preteen child had been swept into the sea.
A mother and child are in critical condition after being swept out to seaCredit: X/SSFFDPIO
Emergency services rushed to the scene – where they found the pair on the coastlineCredit: X/SSFFDPIO
The San Francisco Fire Department launched a major rescue operation and eventually found the pair on the shoreline after they had been pulled from the water.
Both were in critical condition, with paramedics carrying out life-saving treatment before they were rushed to hospital.
Sneaker waves are a deadly hazard along California‘s coastline.
They surge much farther up beaches, often striking without warning.
Paramedics performed life-saving procedures at the sceneCredit: X/SSFFDPIO
The pair were then rushed to hospitalCredit: X/SSFFDPIO
The latest incident comes after two friends were swept out to sea and killed on a beach in California.
Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, had been relaxing on Bonny Doon Beach in Santa Cruz when dangerous waves suddenly pulled them into the ocean.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene after a frantic 911 call at around 5pm on June 10.
At least eight volunteer swimmers plunged into the crashing surf in a desperate attempt to save the women.
One victim was airlifted to hospital while the other was taken away by ambulance.
Harshita tragically died shortly after being rescued from the water.
Mahial remained in critical condition before also passing away on Saturday.
Harshita was studying law at UC Berkeley, while Mahial was preparing to graduate with a Public Health degree from San José State University.
Harshita Nair was a legal studies major at UC BerkelyCredit: Linkedin
Mahial Sran was set to earn her degree in public health at San José State UniversityCredit: Instagram
The pair had both attended Washington High School in Fremont, graduating just three years ago.
Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Captain Kyle Breton said the women had been sleeping in a keyhole — a narrow tunnel carved into coastal rocks — when disaster struck.
He said: “Both of these patients, we believe, were originally sleeping right at the keyhole, which is an area that we’re finding catches people unaware.”
“The tides come in and, in this case, they swept out two sleeping patients, but what we’re also seeing is that people go through the keyhole to get to Yellow Bank Beach and then get trapped … because the tides come in.
But Harshita’s father, Ahock Nair, has disputed that account.
He told the California Post: “They weren’t sleeping there, because their bags were completely dry.
“If they were sleeping, their bags would also have gone along with them, or would have been completely wet.”
Following their tragic deaths, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office urged beachgoers to “be aware” and “understand how to recognize and respond to rip currents”.
CRE: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16547775/mother-child-critical-condition-sneaker-wave/
