A hiker in Northern California died after being swept into the Pacific Ocean by enormous waves that inundated a seaside path and one other hiker who rushed into the water to try a rescue was hospitalized, authorities mentioned.
Rescue crews despatched Sunday afternoon to the Misplaced Coast Path close to Shelter Cove in Humboldt County discovered one particular person treading water in frigid 15- 20-foot swells and one other particular person face down about 50 to 100 yards offshore, Nick Pape, chief of the Shelter Cowl Hearth Division, mentioned in a press release.
"The ocean rescue unit deployed a ship and jet ski from the marina and made the five-mile trek to the sufferers," he mentioned.
Pape mentioned the hikers have been a part of a gaggle of hikers at a portion of the path on a seashore recognized for sleeper waves, or sneaker waves. The harmful waves typically strike with out warning and may catch beachgoers unexpectedly and toss them into churning waters.
When the primary hiker was swept into the water, the second eliminated their backpack and tried to assist however was carried deeper into the ocean.
The acutely aware particular person was taken by helicopter to a hospital and was in secure situation, Pape mentioned. The second particular person was declared lifeless on the scene.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Workplace is investigating, the assertion mentioned.
Based on the Nationwide Climate Service, sneaker waves are so harmful as a result of "the ocean can seem deceptively calm with lengthy lulls between bigger wave units."
"(The calm circumstances) might result in people venturing onto uncovered coastal options the place rare however highly effective waves can overwhelm them, knocking them into the chilly, stressed ocean the place the chance hypothermia or drowning is extreme," the climate service mentioned in March.