Severe waves caused by the storm caused part of the Santa Cruz Pier to collapse, and a man was found pinned under rubble along a stretch of Monterey Bay coastline, leaving one man dead and another missing.
Emergency crews were called to Sunset State Beach at 11:30 a.m. Monday to assist a man who was reportedly trapped under debris amid high waves. The man was released and taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. His identity will be kept secret until his family is notified.
Meanwhile, about 15 miles off the coast, dangerous conditions forced authorities to call off the search for a man who was swept out to sea at Marina State Beach around noon, according to the Marina Police Department. A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office said the two incidents are not believed to be related.
Bystanders at Marina State Beach reported a man was knocked over by tall waves and pulled out to sea, police said. They were unable to help him due to the huge waves and strong currents.
First responders did not see the missing man when they arrived at the beach. They began their search about 300 yards north of Dune Avenue, where the man entered the ocean.
The U.S. Coast Guard and California Highway Patrol searched by air and sea but were unable to find the man. At 2pm, the search was deemed too dangerous to continue due to worsening weather conditions. Police have not released the identity of the missing man.
On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a high surf warning for California’s northern coast, including Santa Cruz, Point Reyes, San Francisco and northern Monterey Bay, and urged people to stay off the beach until 6 p.m. Tuesday to avoid life-threatening conditions.
“Significant waves can roll over beaches without warning, dragging people from rocks, piers and beaches into the sea,” the weather service said. “A sudden immersion in cold water can cause serious damage to even the most experienced swimmers.” Can cause cold water shock.”
Rough waves also caused more than 100 feet of the Santa Cruz Pier to collapse Monday afternoon, throwing a city employee and two contractors into the icy ocean, city officials said at a news conference.
Two of them were rescued by lifeguards in the area, and the third made it to safety on his own. City officials said crews were sent to the pier to assess its stability.
The powerful waves were the result of a series of atmospheric river events that brought heavy rain to Northern California, Oregon and Washington state.
Times staff writer Salvador Hernandez contributed to this report.
